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Duke  University  Libraries 

Annual  message 
Conf  Pam  12mo  #243 

DTTDflDDflDY 


JL_LL_'_' U U^Ul IL_JLlHM.m.i.W 


OF 

TO  THE 

LEGISLATURE  OF  THE  STATE  OF  LOUISIANA- 


JANUARY,    1865. 


PRINTED    AT    THE    OFFICE    OF    THE    CADDO    GAZETTE. 


^f.-i^^<^ 


Executive  Opficb,  > 

ShreVeport,  La.,  Jan.  16th,  1865.      f 
Gentlemen  of  thb  Senate 

AND    OF    the    HoU?B    OF    REPRESENTATIVES: 

You  have  assembled  again,  in  regnlar  session,  for  the  purpose  of  transacting 
the  business  of  the  Commonwealth.  During  the  year  that  has  elapsed  since  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  meeting'  you,  very  important  events  have  transpired.  Many  bloody 
battles  have  been  fought  with  varied  success — many  valuable  lives  have  been  offered 
up  on  the  altar  of  our  common  country.  The  war  has  raged  with  unabated  fury^ 
yet  our  troops,  with  a  few  recent  exceptions,  have  been  everywhere  triumphant ; 
and  the  armies  of  the  Confederacy  are  to-day  well  organized  and  are  still  formid- 
able. Divine  Providence  has  blessed  the  land  with  plenty,  while  that  terrible 
scourge,  which  often  in  our  climato  decimates  whole  cities,  has  been  but  partially 
felt.  Our  own  queenly  metropolis,  though  cursed  with  the  presence  of  an  insolent, 
thieving,  vandal  foe,  has  yet  been  spared  the  visitation  of  pestilence;  and  Louisiana 
has  perhaps  lost  fewer  lives  in  a  year  of  battles  than  she  has  often  lost  in  a  summer 
of  the  fever.  In  this  department,  although  our  people  have  suffered  much  from  the 
wicked  raids  of  the  enemy,  we  have  no  reason  to  complain.  We  should  not  murmur, 
for  our  arms  have  been  victoi-ious  in  an  eminent  degree.  The  enemy  have  been 
driven  out  of  the  Attakapas  parishes,  and  are  not  now  seen  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  Atchafsilaya.  Although  many  of  our  farmers  have  suffered  from  di-outh,  and 
from  the  late  planting  caused  by  invasion,  we  still  have  corn  enough  in  Louisiana 
for  two  years'  subsistence.  With  grateful  hearts  we  should  thank  Him,  who  rules 
the  destinies  of  the  universe,  for  this  plenty  in  the  land. 

Since  your  last  session  we  have  been  called  to  mourn  the  loss  of  many  of  oi|r 
best  citizens.  Henry  Johnson,  once  Governor  of  Louisiana,  a  cotemporary  of 
Clay,  and  "Webster,  and  Calhoun,  died  at  his  home  in  Poiute  Coupee,  full  of  years 
and  full  of  honors.  Pip;rre  Emile  Bonford,  Associate  Justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  after  a  brief  illness,  died  at  Alexandria,  exiled  by  war  from  home  and 
fjxmily.  He  was  a  finished  scholar,  a  thorough  and  very  learned  lawyer  and  jurist, 
and  a  devoted  patriot.  I{is  singularly  pure,  candid,  genial  and  generous  nature 
Avon  the  love  of  all  who  knew  him.  I  took  him  from  tlio  army  and  placed  him  on 
the  bench.  In  his  death  the  State  has  suffered  irrepaiable  loss.  Henry  Marshai-l 
and  Benjamin  L.  Hodge,  the  one  succeeding  the  other  in  Congress,  have  also 
departed  this  life.  Both  were  distinguished  for  their  sterling  integrity  and  great 
patriotism.  Your  own  body  has  also  lost  one  of  its  brig-litest  ornaments,  in  the 
death  of  Preston  Pond,  Jr.,  Senator  from  East  Feliciana.  On  the  battle  field 
death  has  stricken  many  a  shining  mark.  Generals  Polk,  Mouton,  and  Stafford 
have  fallen  fighting  gloriously  for  their  country.  Their  memories  are  embalmed  in 
the  hearts  of  all  Louisianians — a  nation's  tears  will  flow  for  them — their  graves  will 
be  hallowed  ground.  Armani*,  and  Beard,  and  Clack,  and  Canfikld,  and 
Shields,  and  Bell,  and  Wlvans,  and  Walker,  and  Taylor — all  fell  as  fall  the 
bravo.  I  would  recommend  that  a  few  acres  of  the  battlefield  of  Mansfield  bf 
bought  by  the  State,  and  that  a  monument  be  erected  to  the  gallant  Mout<>P 
and  his  brave  comrades,  who  fell  there  in  defence  of  their  country. 

FLNANCES. 

I  respectfully  re'er  you  to  the  report  of  the  Hon.  B.  L.  Defreese,  S(ate  TxeapHr«»r. 
for  much  valuable  inform.Ttion.  At  your  last  session  you  app;'<?priated  the  »;um  ni 
11.043,630  dollars.  I  have  drawn  fro^n  tho  Treasury  6,247,r>70  dnllai>.  leaving  a 
balance  of  appropriations  unexpended  of  4,794.Gr>l  dolU:rt>.  Y'ln  will  fi«»c>  tbatthei'<i 
is  in  tho  Treasury,  (.f  all  funds,  o, 227,369  dollar?. 


6^3?  J  "7^^ 


I  would  also  inrite  your  atteuti»ii  to  the  report  of  Col.  James  C.  Wis«,  QuarfeT- 
Master  fleneral,  hy  which  you  will  pcrceiro  that  a  very  lar^e  proportion  of  th« 
above  expenditure  is  represented  by  valuable  etores,  advancing  in  market  price,  and 
more  available  than  Treasury  Notes  to  meet  the  future  wants  of  the  State/  Ac- 
companying this  Report  will  be  found  a  tabular  statement  of  all  the  property  now 
on  hand  acquired  for  the  State  during  the  past  year.  It  consists  of  cotton,  sugar, 
Kubsistence  stores,  drugs  and  medicines — all  of  which  have  been  paid  for — amount- 
ing in  the  aggregate  to  $5,510,000. 

As  authorized  by  your  Act  of  last  session,  the  Treasurer  has  prepared  and  issued 
three  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  Treasury  notes  of  one  dollar  and  fractions  of  a 
dollar.  This  well-timed  supply  of  change  has  proved  a  groat  relief  to  the  public, 
Rt  small  expense.  The  object  of  the  law  has  been  accomplished  most  admirably, 
Binct-  all  local  and  corporation  small  notes  have  been  Avithdvawn  from  circulation. 

Tor  a  statement  in  detail  of  the  Finajices  of  the  State,  I  refer  you  tc  the  report 
of  the  Hon.  H.  Peralta,  Auditor  of  Public  Accounts.  You  will  perceive  that  the 
State  of  Louisiana  owes,  in  round  numbers,  nineteen  millions  of  dollars.  Under 
your  recent  Act  authorizing  the  eale  of  six  per  cent,  bonds,  I  have  had  occasion  to 
sell  only  to  the  amount  of  571,940  dollars,  all  at  a  premium  of  ten  per 
centum.  The  proceeds  of  these  bonds  have  been  applied  to  draw  in  State  Treasury 
Kotes.  The  Confederate  Government  owes  the  State  about  four  millions  of  dollars, 
e3fpended  for  military  purposes.  I  have  had  the  accounts  and  vouchers  properly 
arranged  and  classified,  and  have  placed  tlierfi  before  the  Hon.  Thos.  C.  Kennedy, 
Comptroller  of  the  C.  S,.  Treasury  at  Marshall.  As  soon  as  they  are  examined  and 
adjusted,  they  will  be  forwarded  to  Richmond  for  payment. 

ST.^TE    GUARD. 

You  authorized  and  instnicted  me  at  your  last  session  to  raise  four  companies 
of  mounted  men,  which,  joined  to  the  six  companies  already  in  State  service,  were 
to  form  two  baltalions  of  State  troops,  whose  duty  was  plainly  prescribed.  I 
raised,  armed  and  eqiiipped  the  companies,  organized  the  battalions,  and  placed 
them  at  once  in  the  field.  At  that  time  the  enemy  had  arrived  at  Natchitoches,  in 
their  advance  up  Red  River  valley.  I  ordered  the  battalions,  commanded  by  Lieu- 
tenant Colonels  II.  M.  Favrot  and  Ben.  AV.  Clark,  to  report  to  General  Taylor 
instanter.  Promptly  obeying,  they  shared  in  the  hard  fought  battles  of  Mansfield 
and  Pleasant  Hill,  and  acquitted  themselves  gallantly  as  good  and  efficient  troops. 
Although  State  forces,  I  kept  them  in  C.  S.  service,  doing  constant  and  heavy  duty 
in  Lower  Louisiana  until  the  26th  day  of  July  last,  when  they  were  regularly  mus- 
tered into  the  C.  S.  Army,  and  turned  over  to  the  General  commanding  this  De- 
partment. The  two  battalions  have  since  been  consolidated,  and  now  form  the 
eighth  regiment  t)f  Louisiana  Cavalry,  numbering  eight  hundred  officers  and  men. 
Composed  of  excellent  material,  I  doubt  not  that  this  corps  will  prove  very  useful 
to  the  Department,  and  much  more  eflicieut  by  being  thus  transferred.  As  the  State 
li;id  no  depots  of  corn  and  provisions,  no  forage,  and  inadequate  transportation,  it 
was  incurring  very  heavy  expense.  I  cannot  speak  too  highly  of  the  bravery  and 
good  conduct  of  the  "Guard;"  they  have  jierformed  their  duty  nobly  wherever 
assigned.  For  the  military  organizations  and  operations  of  the  State  troops,  and  all 
ihc  details  incident  thereto,  I  respectfully  refer  you  to  the  concise  and  able  report  of 
Brig.  Gen.  T.  G.  Hunt,  A.  &  I.  G. 

STATE    DISPEXSAnV. 

The  sum  of  five  Intndred  thousand  dollars  was  appropriated  by  you  for  the  pur- 
chase of  medicines  for  the  famlli -s  of  soldiers.  To  obtain  enough  to  make  the  d;s- 
tdbiition  contemi)latcd  by  the  Act  was  found  imjtracticable.  I  therefore  established 
a  Dispensary  at  this  place,  from  which  every  portion  of  the  Stale  has  been  supplied 
aa  far  ;\f>  poswibh'..  Every  parish  has,  I  believe,  derived  benefit  from  this  Dis- 
pensary. To  none  has  medicine  been  denied.  To  the  poor  and  destitute  it  has 
been  fiiven  "without  money  and  without  price."  For  a  statement  of  the  affairs  of 
'liiji  eatal)li..'«hme!»l,  I  re.^j>ectfnlly  refer  you  to  the  report  of  Surgeon  General  Amzi 
ilarliii.     Y<^u  v.-ill   s;*;^  (hat    ln'  has   furnisliod  to    citizens  of  (ho  State   medicines 


at  about  one-third  of  th«  market  price  here,  to  the  ralue  of  8274,972  ;  that  he  ha» 
distributed  for  charitable  purposes  013,790  woith;  and  that  the  nett  profits  for  fare 
months  amount  to  about  $50,000,  all  of  which  has  been  paid  into  the  State  Trea- 
surj.  Although  my  agents  have  been  very  active,  they  have  succeeded,  at  great 
personal  risk  and  labor,  in  keeping  the  Dispensary  only  partially  supplied.  I  have 
found  it  exceedingly  difficult  to  procure  medicines  for  the  people,  as  the  enemy  took 
a  maligaant  pleasure  in  destroying  all  drug-stores  in  their  march  through  thu  lower 
portion  of  the  State,  and  by  a  refinement  of  cruelty,  have  declared  all  medicines 
contraband  of  war.  Notwithstanding  all  these  difficulties,  I  am  happy  to  inform 
you  that  I  have  received  a  large  supply  from  Mexico — amply  sufficient  for  many 
months  to  come.  Every  citizen  of  Louisiana  can  now  be  abundantly  supplied  with 
medicines  of  all  kinds. 

IRON  AND  LEAD    ORES. 

In  obedience  to  the  instructions  of  the  General  Assembly,  practical  men  were 
employed  to  examine  thoroughly  all  portions  of  the  State  where  lead  and  iron  ores 
were  thonoht  to  exist.  Traces  only  of  lead  ore  were  found  in  several  places,  but 
not  in  sufficient  quantities  to  justify  any  outlay  whatever  for  the  necessary  n\a- 
ehinery  to  Avork  and  smelt  the  same.  The  parishes  of  DeSoto,  Sabine,  Bossier, 
Claiborne  and  Bienville  have  iron  in  large  quantities.  Upon  subjecting  specimens 
of  ore  from  these  parishes  to  the  proper  test,  they  were  found  to  bo  so  refractory, 
that  it  was  not  deemed  advisable  to  prosecute  the  matter  further.  I  thought  it 
more  prudent,  too,  in  the  unsettled  condition  of  affairs,  to  establish  a  furnace,  (which 
is  a  great  undertaking,)  at  a  more  retired  and  secure  y)lace.  I  therefore  sent  Lieut. - 
Col.  E.  Miltenberger,  A.  D.  C,  to  Texas;  and,  after  thorough  examination,  purchased 
one-fourth  of  the  "Sulphur  Forks  Iron  ^Vorks,"  in  DaA'is  cotinty,  of  that  State,  for 
fifty  thousand  dollars.  Tins  furnace  was  erected  but  a  few  months  since,  and  is  noAV 
going  into  successful  operation.  It  will  abundantly  supply  the  State  with  all  the 
iron  needed.  It  is  situated  about  ninety  miles  from  Shreveporr,  and  within  a  few 
miles  of  water  transyortation.  I  consider  this  purchase  very  fortunate.  Already  the 
stock  is  worth  douKie  the  money  stipulated.  The  Company  owns  a  valuable  tract  of 
land  covered  with  inexhaustible  beds  of  rich  iron  ore.  The  buildings  and  machinery 
are  of  the  most  substantial  kind.  The  "AVorks"  are  managed  by  a  Board  of  five 
Directors,  two  of  whom  are  appointed  by  the  State  of  Louisiana.  I  refer  you  to 
the  accompanying  papers  for  full  particulars  respecting  these  valuable  works. 

STATU    STORK. 

AVhen  entering  upon  the  duties  of  my  office,  I  found  the  currency  of  the  State 
very  much  depreciated.  Farmers,  merchants,  butchers,  bakers,  mechanics,  all  re- 
fused to  take  it.  Notwithstanding  it  was  well  knoAvn  that  the  State  M'as  amply 
able  to  redeem  her  circulation,  still  her  paper  was  in  bad  repute,  and  its  exchange- 
able value  daily  declining.  j\luch  concerned  at  this,  I  earnestly  sought  a  remedy. 
After  mature  reflection,  I  determined  to  establish  a  State  Store,  to  sell  cheap  goocla 
to  the  public,  and  to  take  payment  in  our  depreciated  currency.  This  has  served  a 
double  purpose.  It  has  drawn  in  from  circulation  a  large  amount  of  State  notes, 
thus  increasing  the  excha»geable  value  of  the  remainder,  and  has  supplied  our 
fellow-citizens  with  articles  of  necessity,  at  prices  comparatively  moderate.  For 
details  of  the  transactions  in  this  purchase  and  sale  of  merchandize,  I  respectfully 
refer  you  to  the  report  of  C.  H.  Ardis,  Military  Store-keeper.  You  will  perceive 
that  he  has  paid  into  the  Treasury,  from  proceeds  of  sales,  $425,249  61,  be- 
.=*ides  giving  to  destitute  wounded  soldiers,  to  orphans  and  to  widows,  goods  to  tho 
value  of  $22,li39  50.  In  addition  to  this,  you  will  see  that  goods  to  the  value  of 
S87,326  19  have  been  transfered  to  the  several  State  departments,  and  that  army 
supplies,  ordnance  stores,  <Scc.,  to  the  A'alue  of  $627,816  60  have  been  turned  over 
to  the  Contederate  Government,  making  the  transactions  of  the  State  Store  since 
its  inauguration  on  the  30th  of  June  last,  amount  to  the  gross  sum  of  $1,162,551  90. 
These  goods  were  imported  from  ]\[exico,  and  paid  for  in  cotton,  ns  will  appear  from 
documents  annexed  to  the  report  above  mentioned.  All  of  which  are  submitted  for 
yo^ir  inspection. 


6 

I  am  Imppj  to  Inform  rou  that  tlie  Trea«urr  notes  of  the  State  nre  now  mucli  in 
demand,  not  only  in  Louisiana,  but  io  this  entii-o  department.  It  is  vnj  intontion. 
unless  otherwiRe  instructed  bj  the  General  Assembly,  to  keep  np  the  "State  Store," 
to  continue  the  importation  of  goods,  and  to  sell  them  to  the  public  at  prices  Arithin 
a  fraction  of  their  cost.  Many  a  wounded  and  destitute  eoldier  has  been  clothed, 
free  of  charge,  from  this  store,  while  the  widow  and  the  orphan  have  alRO  been  sup- 
plied. In  dispensing  these  charities,  I  have  made  no  distinction.  Wounded  and 
disabled  soldiers  from  Texas,  Arkansas  and  Missouri  have  all  been  relieved — and 
none  have  beiMi  refused. 

To  extend  the  two-fold  benefits  of  this  purchase  and  sale  of  merchandisp,  it  i« 
my  purpose,  your  honorable  body  approving,  to  locate  three  or  more  branch  stores, 
in  different  towns  of  Louisiana.  The  insufficient  receipt  of  goods,  the  want  of 
transportation,  my  unwillingness  to  take  men  from  the  army  to  act  as  store-keeper?, 
and  the  difficulty  of  giving  such  orders  for  the  sale  of  goods  at  a  distance  as  would 
secure  their  just,  equitable  and  judicious  disposition,  are  among  the  reasons  which 
have  prevented  nie  hitherto  from  sending  fhem  to  remote  sections  for  sale  and  dis- 
tribution. I  hope,  however,  to  prove  to  the  people  of  all  portions  of  tlie  State,  by 
the  potent  logic  of  fact!»,  that  the  very  exorbitant  prices  of  imported  necessities  are 
to  be  accounted  for  by  the  greed  of  traders  more  than  by  the  actual  cost  of  impor- 
tation. Should  I  thus  incur  the  ill-will  of  venal,  grasping,  insatiable  peddlers  and 
speculators,  I  shall  be  abundantly  consoled  by  the  approbation  of  all  honorable  and 
patriotic  merchants. 

MANUFACTORIES. 

At  the  last  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  yoti  made  large  and  liberal  appro- 
priations for  the  establishment  of  manufactories ;  and  the  Executive  was  invested 
with  almost  unlimited  powers.  I  trust  that  your  Confidence  has  not  been  misplaced. 
Having  found  the  State  destitute  of  manufactories  of  all  kinds,  I  am  pleased  to 
inform  you  that  there  are  now  in  successful  operation,  the  following  works: 

Two  Turpentine  distilleries^ 

One  Castor  Oil  Factory. 

One  Cotton  Card  Factory. 

One  Establishment  for  making  Carbonate  of  Soda. 

Two  Distilleries  for  pure  medicinal  Alcohol. 

One  Rope- Walk,  for  Cotton  Cordage. 

One  Foundry,  for  cooking  utensils,  ndachinery  and  agricultural  implemftnts. 

Two  Cotton  Cloth  Manufactories. 

Two  Laboratories,  for  indigenous  medicines. 
These  works  have  been  constructed  under  very  unfsivorablc  auspices,  and  have 
succeeded,  although,  in  many  instances,  tve  did  not  have  skillful  mechanics,  nof 
proper  tools.  I  invite  to  them  your  attention,  with  pride.  They  will  sooA  supply 
the  people  with  all  necessary  articles.  Much  credit  is  due  to  Col.  John  M.  Sandidge, 
Chief  of  Ordnance,  for  their  buccess.  The  State  has  been  fortunate  in  having  the 
benefit  of  his  untiring  energy  and  indomitable  perseverance.  He  has  acted  as  my 
general  agent  and  superinten(3ent,  while  performing  the  proper  duties  of  his  office. 
For  information  as  to  the  amount  of  clothing  made  and  distributed  to  Louisiana 
troops,  and  the  operations  of  the  Cotton  Card  Manufactory  and  Rope  Walk,  I  re- 
spectfully refer  you  to  the  report  of  Clinton  H.  Ardis,  Esq.,  Chief  of  the  Clothing 
Bureau  and  Military  Store-keeper.  The  business  of  his  department  has  been 
methodically  and  successfully  conducted. 

I  respectfully  refer  you  to  the  report  of  Tir.  B.  Egan,  Superintendent  of  State 
Laboratory  at  Mt.  Lebanon.  Although  he  hais  labored  undter  givat  difficulties,  ho 
has  established  an  institution  of  which  we  may  well  be  proud.  His  success  is  due 
to  his  zeal  and  energy.  You  Avill  observe  that  the  value  of  property  acquired 
ffreatly  exceeds  the  amount  of  the  outlay.  No  further  appropriation  is  required,  as 
the  Laboratory  will  soon  be  self  sustaining. 

The  press  has  been  amply  supplied  with  printing  paper. 


;  7 

COTTON  CARDS  AND  WOOL  CARDS. 

1  kaTtt  iuiportftd  and  distribated  in  tlie  State,  fifteen  thousand  pairs  of  Cotton 
Cards — selling  them  to  the  soldiers  families  at  ten  dollars  per  pair.  To  accomplish 
tliis,  I  haro  had  figents  in  every  part  of  the  country.  One  was  sent  to  His  Excel- 
lency, Governor  JToseph  E.  Brown,  of  Georgia,  for  a  machine  with  which  to  manu- 
IJacture  cotttm-cards.  lie  very  kindly  and  promptly  furnished  it,  together  with 
sufficient  wire  to  make  a  small  number  of  cards.  For  this  generous  act,  the  State 
W  Louisiana  will  be  under  lasting  obligations  to  him.  The  machine  was  put  in 
mccossful  operation  at  Minden,  and  made  superior  cards  until  the  little  stock  of 
wire  •was  exhausted.  I  found  it  very  difficult  to  obtain  wire,  and  have  sent  to 
Europe  for  it. 

Through  the  indefatigable  exertions  of  my  agent,  D.  A.  Blacksher,  I  have  re- 
eeived  from  Virginia  two  more  machines,  with  six  hundred  pounds  of  wire — enough 
to  make  a  large  number  of  cards — and  now  at  the  factory  in  Minden  there  are  three 
machines,  which  will  soon  be  in  successful  operation,  with  the  capacity  for  making 
one  thousand  pairs  of  cards  per  month.  As  these  machines  cannot  supply  tho 
demand,  I  shall  continue  to  import  cotton  and  wool  cards. 

I  promised  every  lady  in  Louisiana  a  pair  of  cotton  cards.  This  promise  is 
nearly  fulfilled.  The  cards  will  soon  be  delivered.  There  are  to-day  no  fair  hands 
in  the  State  idle.  All  are  busily  engaged  in  making  cloth,  first  for  the  soldiers  in 
tho  field,  then  for  themselves.  The  music  of  the  spinning-wheel  and  loom  is  to  be 
heard  in  every  farm-house  from  early  morn  till  dewy  eve.  It  is  a  glorious  sight  and 
cheering  to  the  patriot's  heart,  when  the  aged  mother,  with  silvered  locks,  sits  by 
the  fire-side,  lighted  by  tho  brightly  blazing  native  pine,  (candles  being  no  longer  in 
use,)  her  fair  daughters  assembled  around  her,  some  carding,  some  knitting,  while 
others  are  engsged  in  that  truly  graceful  task  of  spinning;  all  cheerful  and  all 
happy;  though  a  tear  may  steal  from  the  mother's  eye,  as  she  thinks  of  her  dear  boy 
far  away,  fighting  the  battles  of  his  country  on  the  banks  of  the  James  or  tho 
Tennessee.  God  bless  the  noble  mothers  of  Louisiana !  I  was  called  on 
by  an  aged  matron,  who  said  to  mo  with  tearful  eyes  :  "Governor,  I  have 
eight  sons  in  the  army  ;  I  have  but  one  more,  my  darling  little  Benjamin.  He  is 
just  seventeen,  and  now  the  Captain  of  the  Reserve  Corps  has  sent  for  him.  He 
wants  to  go.  Governor,  but  I  want  him  to  stay  and  take  care  of  me  in  my  old  age. 
But  God's  Avill  be  done!  I  love  my  children  much,  but  I  love  my  country  more. 
He  shall  go!  Ho  is  young  and  tender — my  last  hope — but  he  shall  go !  he  shall 
g^l"     Gentlemen,  with  such  mothers  as  these,  we  must,  we  will  triumph. 

INTOXICATING    LIQUORS. 

The  laws  forbidding  the  distillation  of  alcoholic  liquors  fiom  grain  and  the  pro- 
duce of  sugar  cane,  have  been  strictly  executed  by  me.  It  is  believed  that  not  one 
gallon  of  intoxicating  liquor  is  illegally  produced  in  the  State.  I  trust  this  law 
will  not  be  repealed  during  the  war.  All  bread-stufifs,  sugar  and  molasses,  are  re- 
quired for  the  army  and  for  destitute  families  of  soldiers.  In  many  portions  of 
Loxxisiana,  grain  is  already  scarce.  I  daily  receive  appeals  for  assistance,  and  every 
surplus  barrel  will  be  needed  during  this  and  the  coming  year. 

I  would  again  respectfully  urge  upon  you  to  prohibit  the  sale  of  intoxicating 
liquors  in  the  State,  during  the  war,  except  for  family  use  and  medicinal  purposes. 
Put  a  stop  to  the  retaif  traffic  in  whisky  and  rum.  The  only  man  Avhoso  death- 
warrant  I  have  had  to  sign  since  I  have  been  Governor,  was  brought  to  execution 
for  murder  when  drunk.  Every  criminal  now  in  jail  here  is  suffisring  the  penalty 
pf  intoxication.  You  must  pardon  me,  gentlemen,  if  I  press  this  subject  with  seem- 
ing pertinacity.  I  know  that  it  is  considered  by  some  unpopular  to  advocate  such 
measures,  »nd  that  by  others  it  is  thought  puritanic  ;  but  he  who  blenches  at  a  sickly 
public  sentiment,  or  wishes  to  evade  responsibilities,  in  times  like  these,  is  not  worthy 
the  confidence  of  an  intelligent  and  patriotic  people.  While  I  shall  dispense  public 
charities  with  a  liberal  hand,  clothe  our  gallant  men  in  the  field,  relieve  the  sick  and 
deafcitute,  take  care  of  our  wounded  soldiers,  and  support  the  widow  and  the  orphan, 
J  also  teel  it  to  be  my  conscientious  duty  to  strike  at  vice  in  every  shape  and  form, 


8 

■and  to  do  all  in  my  power,  as  Governor  of  this  Commonwealth,  to  sustain  the  morals 
of  the  land.  The  General  commanding  this  department  cannot  suppress  the  »oIe  of 
alcoholic  liquors  unless  authorized  by  you.  He  and  his  District  Commanders  have 
often  appealed  to  me.  Good  order  and  discipline  cannot  be  kept  among  troops  when 
whisky  shops  are  near  them.  I,  therefore,  again  most  respectfully  but  urgently  re- 
quest that  you  will  give  this  matter  your  serious  consideration.  Pass  the  law,  and 
it  shall  be  executed  to  the  very  letter.  The  large  capital  employed  in  this  traffic, 
will  find  other  and  better  investments;  drunkenness,  that  scourge  of  every  land,  will 
disappear ;  crime  will  be  greatly  diminished ;  good  order  and  discipline  will  be  pre- 
served, while  the  women,  our  truest  and  best  patriots,  will  bless  you  for  tho  act. 

KIDNAPPING    SLAVKS. 

At  the  commencement  of  my  term  of  office,  the  country  was  full  of  lawless  bands 
of  evil-doers  of  every  character.  In  order  to  suppress  them,  I  issued  the  following 
proclamation : 

TO  THK  SHERIFFS  AND  MAGISTRATES  OF  THE  SEVERAL  PARISHES  OF  LOUISIANA, 

I  am  informed  upon  reliable  authority,  that  many  negro  slaves,  taken  from  planta- 
tions on  or  near  the  Mississippi  river  and  its  tributaries,  which  are  under  the  control 
of  the  Federals,  or  which  are  abandoned  by  thwir  OAvners,  are  brought  into  our  lines 
and  there  sold  by  the  captors  or  their  agents.  This  fraud  on  the  rights  of  the 
owners  must  be  promptly  checked  and  punished.  I  desire  you  to  arrest  every  man 
having  in  his  possession  a  negro  thus  brought  into  your  parishes  in  violation  of  law, 
and  to  permit  no  negro  bought  or  hired  from  such  captors  or  their  agents  to  leave 
your  respective  parishes.  You  will  hold  the  offenders  in  custody  for  trial  and  pun- 
ishment, and  retain  the  slaves  subject  to  the  demand  of  their  owners. 

Violations  of  the  rights  of  property  are  becoming  so  common,  that  it  is  incumbent 
upon  all  officers  and  law-abiding  citizens  to  unite  for  the  protection  of  society.  Our 
State  swarms  with  marauders  of  all  descriptions.  Horse-thieves,  negro-thieves, 
swindlers  and  robbers  pursue  their  wicked  purposes  with  impunity. 

As  soon  as  the  active  operations  of  the  campaign  will , permit,  the  civil  authorities 
■will  be  aided  by  the  military  in  arresting  and  punishing  all  offenders.  Until  that 
time,  I  earnestly  entreat  you  to  call  to  your  assistance  all  good  citizens  to  suppress 
and  restrain  these  violations  of  law  and  outrages  upon  private  property. 

HENRY  W.  ALLEN,  Governor  of  Louisiana. 

Executive  Office,  Shreveport,  La.,  May  20,  1864. 

It  has  had  the  desired  effect.  I  sent  two  active  and  responsible  officers  through 
/the  State  with  proper  orders.  Under  these  orders  about  five  hundred  negroes  have 
ibeen  recovered,  and  many  have  already  been  returned  to  their  masters.  While  this 
lias  put  a  stop  to  negro-stealing,  it  has  at  the  same  time  restored  to  many  soldiers, 
.widows  and  orphans,  their  lost  property.  I  have  appointed  a  commissioner  to  take 
charge  of  these  recovered  slaves,  to  hire  them  for  the  benefit  of  their  owners,  and  to 
see  that  they  are  well  provided  for  and  kindly  treated.  His  office  is  self-sustainii^, 
not  taking  one  dollar  from  the  Treasury.  In  connection  with  this  matter*  J  havo 
«ent  the  Hon.  F.  H.  Farrar,  as  commissioner,  td  confer  with  His  Excellejicy.  -P. 
"Murrah,  Governor  of  Texas,  in  order  to  devise  some  means  by  which  All  persons 
taking  slaves  into  Texas  shall  be  required  to  exhibit  their  titles,  and  have  the^sarae 
duly  recorded ;  and,  also,  to  aid  our  citizens  in  recovering  their  lost  property  when 
found  in  Texas.  I  respectfully  refer  you  to  the  report  of  the  Commissioner,  and  ,to 
the  very  satisfactory  correspo^dence  of  His  Excellency,  Gpv^rnor 'Murtuihi  dn^his 
vital  and  important  subject. 

MISSOURI   SOLDIERS. 

I  am  glad  to  state  that  our  patriotic  people,  and  especially  the  ladies,  have  taken 
a  deep  interest  in  the  Missouii  soldiers.  Our  country-women  have  -laboTed  ufaceaB- 
ingly  for  the  relief  of  these  brave  and  veteran  troops.  I  Jiave  thought  it  to  Jb'e  iny 
duty  to  give  liberally  to  these  "orphans  of  the  army,"  ■withoilt  nomips,  withput 
frieads,  but  who  always  %ht  on  fevery  field  with  distinguished  yalor.  I  defined  it 
proper  to  issue  a  circular  lettw  in  their  behalf.  It  was  promptly  responded  to,  a^nd 
the  monies  and  clothing  collected  have  beou  forwarded  to  theso  gallant  .j)atti<:^. 


God  bless  them  !     The  citiaens  of  Louisiana  hare  adopted  them.     Thef  ahall  »har« 
alike  with  our  own  soldiers. 

LOUISIANA    SOLDIERS. 

It  fills  the  heart  of  every  Louisianian  with  pleasure  and  pride  to  see  how  well  our 
troops  have  acted.  In  Virginia,  in  Georgia,  in  Tennessee,  in  Mississippi,  in  Eaat 
Louisiana,  in  this  Department,  everywhere  they  have  nobly  done  their  duty,  and 
won  Iresh  laurels  upon  many  a  bloody  battle-field.  The  early  regiments  that  went 
to  the  armies  of  Virginia  and  Tennessee  have  been  most  terribly  decimated,  leaving 
but  a  few  small  brigades  of  that  gallant  host,  who  went  forth  with  strong  arras  and 
stout  hearts,  to  battle  for  their  country's  cause.  The  regiments  in  this  department 
have  suffered  nearly  as  much  in  battle  and  bj'  disease,  but  have  been  more  fortunate 
in  recruiting. 

I  have  appointed  as  agents,  Moses  Greenwood  and  Geo.  W.  Ward,  to  act  in  con- 
junction with  Dr.  E.D.  Fenner  and  Mr.  T.  0.  Sully,  in  visiting  tie  armies  of  Virginia 
and  Tennessee.  Ample  means  have  been  furnished  them  for  the  relief  of  every  sick 
and  destitute  soldier  from  Louisiana,  in  these  armies.  Through  my  agent,  W.  D. 
Winter,  Esq.,  $5,000  was  given  to  our  returning  prisoners  at  Savannah,  and  85,000 
to  the  Louisiana  Relief  Committee,  at  Columbus,  Ga.  I  also  gave  to  the  Richmond 
As«;ociation  for  furnishing  artificial  limbs  the  sum  of  $10,000.  The  Soldiers' Home 
and  Louisiana  Hospital,  at  Richmond,  have  been  furnished  with  funds,  and  the 
destitute  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  at  Mobile  have  not  bepu  forgotten. 

I  have  appointed  Col.  H.M.  Favrot,  Keeper  of  the  Military  Records  of  the  State, 
and  have  sent  him  to  the  armies  of  Virginia  and  Tennessee  to  enter  upon  the  respon- 
sible duties  of  his  oflice.  I  trust  that  this  appointment  will  meet  with  your  approba- 
tion. I  deemed  it  my  duty  to  anticipate  the  action  of  the  Genei'al  Assembly,  in 
order  that  no  time  should  be  lost  in  bringing  up  the  military  records  of  those  gallant 
men,  who  have  fought  and  are  still  fighting  the  battles  oi  their  country. 

John  Bunyan  has  portrayed,  in  language  that  will  never  die,  the  troubles,  trials 
and  tribulations  of  "Cln-istian,"  Avhile  journeying  to  the  New  Jerusalem.  This  sol- 
dier of  the  Cross  passed  the  Slough  of  Despond,  through  the  valley  of  Humiliation, 
up  the  Hill  of  Ditliculty,  and  fought  the  Dragon  ApoUyon,  shouting  with  a  loud 
voice  and  saj-ing  :  "Rejoice  not  against  me,  oh !  mine  enemy ;  when  I  fall  I  shall 
rise!"  By  incessant  toil  and  hard  fighting  he  gained  the  victory  at  last,  and  cross- 
iug  the  River,  entered  into  the  gates  of  the  Celestial  City. 

Citizen  soldiers  of  Louisiana!  emulate  the  example  of  this  heroic  warrior.  Halt 
not  at  the  Slough  of  Despond.  With  quick  time,  march  straight  on.  Listen  not  to 
the  delusive  promises  of  the  enemy — they  are  as  hollow  and  as  false  as  hell.  Oh! 
remember  the  widow  and  the  orphan,  whose  cries  daily  ascend  to  heaven.  Think  of 
the  women  of  Louisiana  who  have  suffered  crucifixion  of  the  soul.  Think  of  the 
torrents  of  Southern  blood  shed  by  Yankee  hands — think  of  the  acres  of  bleaching 
bones — thnik  of  the  thousands  of  mutilated  forms — think  of  the  burning  cities,  of 
the  devastated  lands,  of  the  broken  hearts.  Think  of  all  these,  and  let  the  memory 
nei've  your  hearts  to  do  or  die. 

When  the  armies  of  France  returned  from  the  late  Italian  campaign,  all  Paris 
received  them  with  that  pomp  and  circumstance  which  can  only  be  displayed  in  that 
brilliant  capital.  All  that  wealth,  and  taste,  and  art  could  do,  was  brought  into 
requic^itiou.  Wit,  and  beauty,  and  fashion  were  there,  for  this  was  the  proudest  day 
that  France  ever  saw.  The  triumphal  procession  of  returning  columns,  was  headed 
in  person  by  the  Emperor,  the  most  sagacious  and  successful  monarch  that  ever 
itigned  over  any  people.  Soldiers  of  Louisiana  !  when  this  war  shall  end  and  you 
©ball  return  to  your  homes,  a  greater  triumph  awaits  you  than  that  of  Paris.  Each 
man,  the  humblest  private  in  the  ranks,  will  be  a  hero.  The  garland  and  the  wreath 
et^ll  be  prepared — flowers  shall  strew  your  paths  and  lovely  women  shall  shed  tears 
for  rou  of  joy.  Soldiers  !  my  heart  warms  to  j'ou  all.  I  have  had  the  proud  privi- 
Je^*©  of  sharing  your  privations  and  hardships  in  camp,  and  your  dangers  on  the 
batrle-field.     Yon  shnll  never,  never  be  forgotten. 


10 

PROVISIONS    FOR    THK    DnSTITnTR. 

1  r«sp»etfullj  Mvr  you  to  the  report  of  Col.  J.  G.  Wise,  Q.  M.  General,  for  a 
detailed  t<tatemeut  of  provisions  furnished  to  the  suflering  citizens  of  the  State.  You 
will  see  that  there  has  been  distributed  30,792  bushels  of  corn,  20,182  pounds  of 
bacon,  59,965  pounds  of  flour,  62,195  pounds  of  sugar,  and  700  beeves.  My  agents 
■were  instructed  to  sell  to  those  who  were  able  to  pay,  and  to  give  freely  to  the  des- 
titute, who  had  no  means  of  paying.  Upon  the  withdrawal  of  the  Federal  army, 
desolation  and  ruin  were  left  behind  them.  All  were  stripped  of  everything  valua- 
ble. Every  ear  of  corn,  every  pound  of  meat,  every  living  thing  in  the  shape  of 
Btock,  was  taken  off'.  This  left  the  parishes  of  iSatchitoches,  Winn,  Rapides, 
Avoyelles  and  St.  Landry  to  be  supplied — a  duty  which  I  have  performed  to  the 
extent  of  my  available  means.  In  them  much  di.stress  has  been  relieved,  and  many 
helpless  families  have  been  saved  Irom  starvation.  I  have. made  sufficient  arrange- 
ments to  furnish  corn  and  other  provisions,  in  case  of  need,  in  these  and  other 
parishes.  It  affords  me  pleasure  to  relieve,  when  in  my  power,  the  suffering.  Their 
tribulations  have  been  great,  but  their  patriotism  has  been  greater.  Some  have  gone 
astray,  and  have  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  enen)y.  ]Many  did  so  under 
duress.  They  deeply  regret  it,  and  are  now  showing  by  their  daily  walk  that  th»^y 
are  more  firmly  than  ever  attached  to  our  cause.  They  are  a  good  and  brave  people. 
They  have  been  crushed  to  the  earth.  They  are  of  us — with  us — for  us.  Let  them 
not  be  alienated  and  driven  off.  I  respectfully  ask  your  attention  to  their  present 
political  status  and  recommend  them   to  your  favorable  considm-atiou. 

The  sum  of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  appropriated  for  the  poor  and  destitute, 
■was  placed  in  the  hands  of  L.  V.  Reeves  and  N.  D.  Coleman.  They  have  impar- 
tially and  judiciously  distributed  it,  and  accomplished  much  good.  This  timely  aid 
has  gladdened  the  hearts  of  many  a  suffering  family.  I  respectfully  refer  you  to 
their  accompanying  reports. 

CIVIL    RKiHTS. 

Immediately  after  the  expulsion  of  the  enemy  last  spring,  many  citizens  were 
arrested  by  the  military  authorities  and  imprisoned,  without  the  benelit  of  that 
speedy  trial  guaranteed  by  the  Constitution  and  laws.  It  seemed  that  a  reign  of 
terror  had  begun,  and  that  the  bayonet  was  about  to  rule  the  land.  Taking  prompt 
issue  with  the  military  authorities,  I  issued  the  following  proclamation  : 

TO   THE    CITIZKNS   OF   THl".    STATE   OF    LOUISIANA. 

As  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  the  State,  sworn  to  maintain  the  intt  grity  of  hur  laws,  I  deem  it 
appropriate  to  renew  to  her  peoj)le  tlie  assurnnec  tiiat  I  siiall  keep  tliat  oalh,  ancl  fulfil  that  duty 
Wiiile  doing  this  I  have  thoiigiit  proper  to  add  such  suggestions  as  the  occasion  dcniaiuls. 

The  preser.ce  of  armies  in  our  midst,  raised  by  the  Confederate  Government,  eonuiianded  by 
officers  of  its  appointment,  governed  by  the  rules  and  regulations  it  has  adopted,  and  anu^nabio 
solely  to  it  in  a  military  cajiaoity,  produces  inconveniences  which  arc  inevitable,  and  of  which, 
when  necessary,  a  patriotic  people  will  not  complain.  These  inconveniences  form  a  ])art  of  tho 
price  you  must  pay  for  your  country's  independence,  and  for  the  liberties  you  will  hereafter 
enjoy. 

liut  that  Government  is  of  your  creation,  and  has  no  legal  power  beyond  that  which  yon  have 
conferred  upon  it.  Its  duties  are  strictly  defined,  and  its  authority  limited  by  the  constitutional 
charter  v/hich  your  representatives  have  aided  in  forming,  and  which  yoa.  through  your  conven- 
tion, have  ratiiied  The  armies  of  the  ('onfedevate  States  have  no  authority  or  power,  except 
what  tho  laws  of  Congress  give  them,  and  that  body  cannot  go  bi'_>ond  the  grant  emanating 
from  Sovereign  States.  The  authority  of  military  officers  is  therefore  the  creation  of  constitu- 
tional laws.  They  can  rightfully  do  nothing  but  what  Congress  has  autiujrized  them  to  do. 
Properly  viewed,  an  army  is  only  a  police  force  on  a  large  scale,  whose  sole  fiinetion  is  to  main- 
tain the  laws  of  the  land,  and  to  protect  the  rights  of  the  nati(;n.  Hence  the  machinery  by 
which  it  acts  ought  never  to  come  in  collision  with  the  civil  laws,  or  the  machinery  of  local  or 
State  governments.  Over  the  citizen,  or  liis  property,  no  military  officer  has  any  other  authority 
than  what  is  given  him  by  law.  It  is  the  glory  of  every  realy  great  military  commander,  that 
the  civilian  is  never  ni;uie  to  feel  the  presence  of  an  army  as  a  burden,  a  nuisance,  or  a  terror. 
Over  liis  troops  his  authority  as  given  by  law,  is  necessarily  very  great.  This  is  right;  but 
beyond  the  cirrle  of  his  army  the  humblest  citizen  in  the  land  is  his  equal. 

I  therefore  earn(;stly  admonish  every  one  whose  rights  may  be  violated  under  pretence  of 
military  autliority,  to  appeal  promptly  to  the  courts  of  justice.  Let  every  citizen  having  just 
cause  of  complaint  against  milltarv  oflicers,  report  tho  same  at  once  to  the  grand  jury  of  hii» 
parish.  If  arrested  and  deprived  of  your  liberty,  it  is  your  right  to  have  the  cause  of  your 
arrest  judicially  inquired  into  at  once,  and  to  be  discharged  unkss  found  to  be  legally  detained. 


11 

This  writ  of  Haheat  Corpus  in  aUraji  opeu  to  erery  citison;  to   inroke  it  is  his  hiUowod  right? 
and  I  earnostlv  request  all  judg-cs  to  issue  it  whenever  legally  dem  '.nded. 

Extended  authority  has  been  conferred  on  the  Comraandin  j  General  of  this  department.  Ho 
has  never  used  that  power  against  a  citizen,  and  is  entirely  free  frarn  any  disposition  so  to  use 
5t.  I  know  it  to  be  his  earnest  wish,  that  everyabuse  of  authority  by  any  subordinate  officer 
shall  be  resisted  by  citizens  under  all  circumstances,  and  promptly  reported.  If  there  are  acts 
of  petty  tyranny,  annoyance  and  proscription  committed  in  tiiis  dep.nrtment,  they  will  be  repro- 
bated by  him.  being  as  contrary  to  his  will  .as  tiiey  are  in  contrast  with  his  character.  All  such 
acts  brought  to  his  knowledge,  I  doubt  not,  either" have  been,  or  will  be  punished  promptly. 

Thus  far  but  one  citizen  of  this  State  h^is  been  illegally  and  wrongfully  exiled,  and  he  .shall 
be  returned  to  his  home  and  his  family.  While  I  am  Governor  of  the  State  of  Louisiana,  the 
bayonet  shall  not  rule  her  citizens,  but  they  shall  be  protected  at  every  hazard  in  all  their  legal 
and  constitutional  rights.  HENRY  W..  ALLEN,  Governor  of  Louisiana, 

Executive  OfHce,  Shreveport,  La.,  July  5th,  1834. 

When  the  CoimiiaiKling  .nencral  of  tins  Department  was  appealed  to,  the  prisonB 
were  thrown  open,  and  all  not  subject  to  military  tribunals  were  turned  over  to  tho 
civil  authorities.  He  has  forborne  to  suspend  the  writ  of  Habeas  Corpus,  though 
such  suspension  was  authorized  bv  Congress.  He  has  carefully  avoided  conflicts 
with  civil  functionaries  and  encroachments  on  civil  rights.  His  profound  respect  for 
the  laws  of  the  land,  and  his  eminent  love  of  equity  and  justice,  as  manifested  in  hi» 
course  towards  the  citizens  of  Louisiana,  are  among  the  traits  that  distinguish  Lim 
as  a  safe  depositary  of  power. 

banks'  last  raid. 
In  the  month  ot  March  last,  Maj.  Gen.  IS.  P.  Banks,  of  the  Federal  army,  anived 
at  Alexandria  witl  a  force  esiimated  at  forty  thousand  men,  and  a  cooperating  navy 
of  sixty  gunboats  and  I  ransports,  with  a  legion  of  camp-followers  and  speculators  iQ 
their  train.  He  pushed  his  columns  up  the  valley  of  Red  river,  meeting  with  no 
obstacles  until  within  a  few  mile&  of  Mansfield,  where  he  found  what  he  did  not  look 
for — a  fight.  The  gallant  Taylor  was  there,  surrounded  by  the  elite  of  Texas,  Ar- 
kansas, ]\Iissouii,  and  Louisiana.  The  battle  was  fought,  and  such  a  battle! 
History  will  record  it  as  one  ot  the  most  brilliant  conflicts  of  the  war.  Banks  &. 
Co.  were  routed,  horse,  foot  and  dragoons.  They  were  pursued  to  Pleasant  Hill. 
where  another  severe  engagement  ensued,  and  the  "grand  army"  fled  in  wild  con- 
fusion to  Grand  Ecore.  Here  was  the  most  disgraceful  retreat  of  modem  times. 
Every  transportable  article  of  value  was  carried  off,  and  the  rest  destroyed.  I  saw 
feather  beds  ripped  up — windows  smashed  in — looms  and  spinning  wheels  broken 
in  pieces — the  rich  and  poor  ffiring  alike.  Gen.  Banks  slept  at  the  residence  of  a 
highly  respectable  lady  at  Pleasant  Hill,  during  hishegira.  Upon  leaving  the  house 
of  this  gentlewoman,  hi*  body-guard  stole  all  the  furniture,  bedding,  etc.,  from  tho 
room  which  this  gallant  General  occupied  !  From  Mansfield  to  the  Mississippi  th« 
track  of  the  spoiler  is  one  scene  of  utter  desolation.  The  fine  estates  on  Cane  and 
Red  rivers,  on  bayous  Rapides,  Robert,  and  DeGlaizc.  were  all  devastated.  Houses, 
gins,  mills,  barns,  and  fences  were  burned — the  negroes,  old  anl  young,  were  car- 
ried off — horsc.^,  cattle,  hogs,  and  every  living  thing  driven  away  or  killed.  When 
they  left  the  beauliful  town  of  Alexandria,  it  Avas  fired  in  many  places  by  order  of 
commanding  ofricers.  While  it  was  in  flames,  and  the  women  and  children  flying 
in  terror  from  their  burning  houses,  the  drunken  and  redoubtable  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith 
rode  amidst  his  infuriated  myrmidons,  and  exclaimed  with  fiendish  delight:  "Boys, 
this  looks  like  war!" 

It  is  a  sad  commentary  on  human  nature,  and  sickening  to  the  hearts  of  all  hon- 
orable men,  to  see  to  what  extent  the  Yankees  have  carried  their  thieving  propensi- 
ties, and  how  low  they  have  descended  in  the  scale  of  common  decency-  Yankee 
preachers  boastfully  exhibit  on  their  shelves  rare  and  costly  books  stolen  from  the 
libraries  of  Southern  gentlemen.  Yankee  women  are  daily  seen  in  the  streets  ot 
Yankee  cities  and  towns,  bedecked  in  stolen  silks  and  bespangled  v.'ith  jewels  of 
which  their  husbands  and  paramours  have  robbed  the  persons  of  our  country-women- 
Yankee  boys  drink  from  stolen  silver  cups,  while  Yankee  babies  cut  their  teeth  on 
stolen  silver  spoons!  As  a  steamer  descends  the  Mississippi,  a  Yankee  school- 
mistress calls  to  the  commander  from  the  bank  to  capture  hf^r  a  piano.  These  •.\x<t 
facts — notorious,  well  arithenticatcd  and    undeniable.     Surh   aic   ilif  iliristiaii   uu'U 


12 

who  are  fighting  ua !     Such  the  christian  women  who  receiTe  the  fruit*  of  nil  thes« 
robberies. 

Ill  order  that  tlie  world  may  know,  in  part,  what  Louisiana  has  suffered,  and  that 
future  generations  of  her  sons  may  recur  to  tlicse  sufferings  as  a  perpetual  incentive 
to  hate  the  Yankee  race,  I  have  caused  reports  of  Yankee  outrages  in  the  several 
parishes  to  be  prepared,  supported  by  affidavits,  made  under  the  supervision  of  men 
of  great  respectability  and  integrity.  These  reports  when  published  will  comprise 
a  mass  of  information  of  a  reliable  and  documentary  character,  interesting  to  all 
civilized  people. 

In  perusing  this  volume  of  crime  and  infamy,  the  very  blood  will  boil  in  your 
veins.  The  evidence  taken  is  under  oath,  carefully  weighed  and  strictly  scrutinized; 
my  instructions  having  been  to  learn  and  record  the  truth,  without  coloring  of 
any  kind. 

One  occurrence  has  come  to  my  knowledge  not  mentioned  in  these  papers.  On 
the  retreat  of  Banks  last  spring,  one  of  his  Generals  rode  to  a  lady's  house  and 
asked  for  a  drink  of  water.  She  gave  him  with  her  own  hands  a  silver  goblet  full 
of  cold  water.  After  satisfying  his  thirsr,  the  unblushing  scoundrel  examined  the 
cup  with  the  eye  of  a  foot-pad,  deliberately  put  it  in  his  pocket  and  rode  ofi'!  Can 
any  age,  clime  or  nation  show  in  the  dark  and  bloody  annals  of  war,  an  act  of 
meanness  to  exceed  this  theft  by  a  Federal  General  dressed  in  full  Yankee  uniform  ? 

Orders  were  issued  by  their  Commanding  Generals  to  take  all  personal  property 
and  to  destroy  what  could  not  be  carried  off.  No  christian  or  even  civilized  people 
have  heretofore  pursued  this  brutal  policy.  It  was  reserved  alone  for  the  Yankee 
race  to  sanction  and  applaud  in  this  nineteenth  century,  that  Avhich  shocks  the  moral 
sense  of  the  christian  world.  Even  when  the  Czar  of  all  the  Russias  confiscates 
whole  Polish  villages,  seizes  the  lands,  blots  out  the  ver}-  name  of  the  department, 
and  exiles  the  victims  of  his  wrath  to  Siberia,  he  respects  their  personal  property 
and  allows  them  to  carry  it  with  them;  but  the  Federals  rejoice  in  destroying  all 
they  cannot  steal. 

A  traveller  visiting  the  field  of  Solferino  a  few  months  after  the  collision  of  the 
hostile  armies  there,  would  scarcely  have  known  that  a  great  battle  had  occurred. 
A  few  fallen  mulberry  trees,  a  few  rifle  pits,  and  the  long  trenches  that  held  the 
silent  dead,  were  all  the  marks  of  the  terrible  conflict  where  forty  thousand  brave 
men  fell.  No  fai'm  houses  were  burned,  no  villages  sacked,  no  blackened  ruins  were 
seen.  Two  christian  nations  were  contending  for  the  mastery,  and  their  campaigns 
were  conducted  by  the  rules  of  civilized  warfare.  Here,  how  diftcrent !  To  the 
christian  stranger  I  would  say  :  Come  and  see  our  blackened  walls — our  smoking 
ruins — our  desolated  homes — our  demolished  villages.  Come,  oh  !  come  and  see  the 
widow  and  the  orphan,  robbed  by  a  Y^ankce  General,  begging  bread  from  door  to 
door.  Come  and  see  tender  women  with  their  little  children  flying  from  the  torch 
of  the  incendiary  and  the  brxital  touch  of  Yankee  officers.  See  the  venerable  mother, 
seventy  years  of  age,  hung  by  the  neck  and  stripped  of  her  clothing  to  make  her 
disclose  where  she  had  placed  her  own  treasure.  [This  was  done  by  Col.  McC  aleb, 
of  the  U.  S.  Army,  now  s'ationed  at  Natchez,  in  his  raid  ujjon  "Sicily  Island,"  who 
at  the  same  time  robbed  many  young  ladies  of  their  jewelry,  tearing  open  their 
dresses  and  exposing  their  persons.]  Think  of  all  this,  ye  christian  strangers,  and 
tell  ns  are  we  wrong  or  are  we  right  in  fighting  these  fiends  of  hell  to  the  last  ex- 
tremity 1  Tell  us  would  it  not  be  right  in  the  eyes  of  God  and  man,  to  arm  the 
whole  population — to  arm  every  man,  woman  and  child — every  free  negro  and 
slave — and  fight  these  devils  with  burning  hate  and  holy  revenge  ?  "Wo  are  told 
that  this  world  and  all  tliat  in  it  is,  will  one  day  be  destroyed  by  fire,  and  that  matter 
itself  will  return  to  the  God  who  made  it.  Yet  one  thing  will  remain  :  it  is  Eternal 
Jusiice.  To  the  justice  of  the  Great  Ruler  we  appeal,  and  with  His  blessing  Ave 
mean  to  triumph. 

Gen.  Banks  had  emblasoned  upon  his  banners,  "Shrevcport  oi  Hell."  He  did  not 
rmch  Shroveport.  His  legs  saved  him  from  hell.  It  is  believed,  however,  that  he 
w-ill  roUcli  thfl  latter  plac»— fbr  it  is  prepftn^d  fw  tbooe  who  have  shed  their  brothers' 


13 

bbod — for  the  "Devil  and  hh  angcle." 

If  the  "dark  and  sulphurous  ])it"  was  paved  v.  ith  cotton  balps,  I  verily  believe 
that  N.  P.  Banks  with  his  co-partners  in  trade,  Messrs.  ManKtield  6c  Co.,  of  New 
Orleans,  would  get  up  an  expedition  with  government  transportation,  in  order  to  beg, 
buy  or  steal  from  the  devil  the  aforesaid  cotton.  The  disgraceful  overtures  Avhicli 
they  have  made,  and  which  they  are  now  making,  for  cotton,  are  disgusting  to  every 
honorable  man. 

And  now  the  country  presents  the  appearance  of  the  Carnatic  as  described  by 
Edmund  Burke,  after  the  terrible  raid  of  Ilyder  AH  upon  its  plains.  You  can  travel 
for  mih'S  in  many  portions  of  Loui^^iana.  through  a  once  thickly  settled  country,  and 
not  see  a  man  nor  a  woman,  nor  a  child,  nor  a  four-footed  beast.  The  farm  houses 
have  been  burned — the  plantations  deserted — the  once  smiling  fields  are  now  groAvn 
up  in  briars  and  brakes,  in  parasites  and  poisonous  vines — a  painful  melancholy 
broods  over  the  land  and  desolation  reiyns  supreme. 

WOUNDED    A.\D    UlSADLED     SOLDIERS. 

At  your  last  session  you  provided  ample  means  for  the  relief  of  the  wounded  and 
disabled  soldiers  of  Louisiana.  Learning  that  there  were  many  in  the  Sta'e  in  a 
destitute  condition,  I  published  the  following  notice  : 

TO   DISAllLED   LOUISIANA    SOLDIERS. 
Louisiana  soldiers,  disabled  hy  wounds,  or  by  sickness  incurred  in  actual  service,  and  -without 
means  of  support,  are  requested  to  apply  to   nic  for  relief  and   assistance.     Such  applications 
must  be   accompanied  with  certificates  as  to  disability,  service  rendered,  and  present  circum- 
stances.   They  will  all  be  promptly  relieved. 

HENRY  W.  ALI.EN,  Governor  of  Louisiana. 
Shreveport,  La.,  August  4th,  18G4. 

Thus  invited,  these  unfortunate  children  of  Louisiana  came  forward  and  it  has 
been  a  labor  of  love  to  sup^oiy  them  with  money  and  clo'hing.  No  one  has  ever 
applied  in  vain,  and  there  arc  now  noneof  this  class  in  want  of  funds,  food  or  clothing. 

Having  seen  in  the  Texas  papers  that  the  friends  of  the  late  Maj.  Gen.  Tom  Green 
were  raising  a  fund  for  the  widow  and  children  of  that  lamented  otEctr,  I  subscribed 
in  the  name  of  the  State,  five  thousand  dollars,  and  sent  it  to  the  bereaved  widow  as 
a  small  tribute  to  the  memory  of  her  gallant  and  heroic  husband. 

COM.MISSIONKR  Ok    CLAIMS. 

Finding  that  very  many  citizens  living  a  long  distance  from  Shreveport,  had 
claims  against  the  C.  S.  Government  for  property  impressed,  purchased,  taken  or 
destroyed,  I  appointed  Hon.  A.  11,  Hynes,  of  iMadison  parish,  Commissioner  of 
Claims.  His  ofiice  has  become  important,  with  a  large  business  to  transact,  requiring 
an  assistant  at  Monroe  and  at  Opelousas.  This  Bureau  is  self-sustaining  and  requires 
no  appropriation — a  small  fe*^  being  charged  for  collections.  1  respectfully  refer  you 
to  the  accompanying  report  of  the  Commissioner. 

ICA.Sr     LOUIMA.NA. 

In  consequence  of  the  great  difHculty  of  communication,  I  have  not  been  able  to 
do  all  I  wished  for  the  parishes  of  East  Louisiana.  I  deeply  sympathize  with  our 
fellow-citizens  who  resi  e  in  that  portion  of  the  State,  and  have  sent  two  of  my 
Aids.  Lt.  Cols.  D.  S.  Cage  and  T.  G.  Sparks,  to  learn  their  wants  and  redress  their 
grievances.  They  have  been  partially  supplied  with  cotton  cards  and  medicines 
through  my  agents,  Mi  ssrs.  "Winter,  Walsh  and  Kcafus,  whose  report  is  herewith 
submirted.  They  have  shipped  and  sold  one  hundred  and  thirty-three  bales  of 
cotton — the  net  proceeds  of  which  have  been  expended  in  medicines  and  cotton 
cards — all  of  which  have  been  distributed  gratuitously,  as  they  coft  the  State  noth- 
ing. These  agents  have  simply  been  reimbursed  for  their  outlays,  without  acquiring 
one  dollar's  profit. 

Dr.  Edward  Delony  was  appointed  agent  to  supply  that  section  of  the  State  with 
indigenous  medicines.  His  arrangements  have  been  seriously  interfered  with  by  the 
raids  of  the  enemy.     His  report  is  herewith  submitted. 

As  empowered  by  the  Act,  approved  Feb'y,  10th,  1864,  I  appointed  Mr.  Hugh 
H.  Oonnoll,  collector  of  taxes,  to  be  voluntarily  paid,  by  persona  living  East  of  the 
Mifi'siJi'sippi  river,  and  I  now  »ub'mit  his  nJfort. 


14 

Under  the  Act,  npproved  Feb'y  9tli,  18G4,  the  machinery  of  tlie  penitentiary,  at 
Ch'nton,  has  been  jilaced  in  charge  of  Mr.  Wm.  F.  LockAvood,  to  whose  report  your 
attention  is  directed. 

I  respectfully  refer  you  to  the  report  of  the  Administra'or?  of  the  Insane  Apyhim 
at  Jackson.  As  this  institution  had  become  very  much  pressed  for  provisions,  I  gave 
the  Adminislrators  a  permit  to  ship  one  hundred  bales  of  cotton,  with  -which  to  pro- 
cure the  actual  necessities  of  life.  I  earnestly  recommend  that  you  authorize  the 
Governor  to  take  such  steps  as  he  may  from  time  to  time  deem  requisite  to  supply  this 
Asylum  with  articles  of  prime  necessity.  At  present  it  is  a  sacred  duty  which  we 
ov/eto  God  and  our  country,  to  take  care  of  the  poor  inmates  of  this  institution.  It 
is  in  a  deplorable  condition. 

By  an  act  of  your  la.'-t  session,  the  Governor  was  authorized  and  instructed  to 
raise  one  hundred  and  fifty  mounted  men  in  East  Lousiana,  for  purjioses  well  defined 
in  said  Act.  I  appointed  Maj.  J.  B.  Corkern  to  the  command  of  this  force,  togetlier 
with  the  other  necessary  commissioned  officers.  He  immediately  entered  upon  the 
duties  assigned  to  him,  and  notwithstanding  every  obstacle  was  thrown  in  his  way, 
succeeded  in  collecting,  mounting  and  equipping  eighty  men.  By  my  orders  he  re- 
ported at  once  to  Col.  John  S.  Scott,  then  commanding  in  East  Louisiana,  and  per- 
formed most  efficient  service  under  that  gallant,  meritorious  and  well  tried  soldier. — 
For  reasons  which  will  be  communicated  to  yourpropercommittee,  I  ordered  this  bat- 
talion to  this  department,  and  it  is  now  actively  engaged  in  the  front,  under  orders 
temporarily  of  Lt.  Gen.  S.B.  Buckner.  For  further  information  on  this  subject,  I 
respectfully  refer  you  to  the  report  of  my  Adj't.  Gen.  T.  G.  Hunt,  and  to  the  accom- 
panying correspondence  with  the  Secretary  of  War. 

ADVICK    lO  I'LA.XTKRS. 

I  would  most  respectfully  recommend  through  you,  that  the  planters  continue  to 
husband  all  their  resources — pay  strict  attention  to  their  plantations — keep  up  and 
repair  their  enclosures  and  apply  themselves  to  the  increase  of  their  stock  of  all  kinds. 
Let  theircotiongins  be  kept  in  order.and  asmall  quantity  of  cotton  beplanted,  enough 
with  v.'hich  to  pay  their  taxes  and  support  their  families.  If  not  interrupted,  I  will 
promise  to  supply  them  with  iron,  farming  utensils,  &/C-  Let  them  cultivate  the  Chi- 
nese sugar  cane  extensively,  and  also  the  plants  that  can  be  used  for  indigenous 
medicines — castor  oil  bean,  poppy,  mustard,  red  pepper,  et  cetera — all  of  which  are 
wanted  in  large  quantities  at  the  State  Laboratory.  We  must  endeavor  to  be  as  far  as 
possible,  a  self-sustaining  people.  A  beginning  has  been  made.  I  promise  them  if 
they  will  adopt  these  suggestions,  and  give  me  their  hearty  support,  their  wants  shall 
all  be  supplied.  I  am  now  causing  to  be  c>uistructed  a  very  simple  machine,  which  will, 
I  think,  in  a  large  measure  take  the  place  of  cotton  cards — the  great  desideratum  of 
the  country.  This  machine  is  sin^.plein  construction  and  cheap  in  price,  and  will  be 
put  at  the  disposition  of  all  who  may  wish  it. 

Although  Louisiana  has  been  invaded  by  the  enemy  and  most  terribly  devastated 
— let  peace  once  more  visit  us,  and  in  a  few  years  our  people  will  be  prosperous  and 
happy. 

The  historian,  Dupin,  informs  us  that  the  wars  waged  by  France  against  herself  and 
the  rest  of  Europe,  continued  through  twenty- three  years.  One  million, livehundred 
thousand  men  had  perished — property  of  untold  value  was  destroyed.  The  nation  was 
thoughtby  all  tobeutterly  ruined,  herpeopleto  be  crushed,  herexchequer  totally  bank- 
rupt. Yet  within  nine  years  after  peace  the  profound  and  terrible  wounds  inflicted  on 
France  were  all  healed,  and  their  scars  entirely  obliterated.  '^I'hus  it  will  be  with  us. 
Within  less  then  nine  years  after  peace  is  declared,  a  stranger  passing  through  the 
State  would  not  perceive  that  the  iron  heel  of  war  had  pressed  her  soil.  Commerce 
and  the  arts  will  flourish.  Smiling  fields  of  cotton,  sugar  cane,  corn  and  rice,  will  greet 
the  eye  in  every  direction,  and  wealth  and  plenty  AAill  crown  the  labors  of  the  hus- 
bandman. Think  of  all  this,  planters  of  Louisiana,  and  bear  your  burdens  cheer- 
fully. I  know  that  your  taxes  are  heavy — that  you  are  annoyed  with  the  collectors 
and  impressing  officers — but  remember  this  is  the  price  of  liberty.  The  soldiers  are 
fighting  your  battles — you  must  do  your  duty  ot  home,  and  in  dne  seapon  we  will  all 


15 

reap  the  rich  reward  together.     Our  recuperative  energit^s  will  rise  triumphaiitlr  in 
the  end.     Our  flng  high  advanced  will  be  respected  and  beloved  bv  all   who  revere, 
morality  and  religion — who  honor  manhood,  or  respect  patriotic  women. 

VANKKE    TREATMENT  OF    SLAVES. 

To  the  English  philanthropist  who  professes  to  feci  so  much  for  the  African  slave, 
I  would  say,  come  and  see  the  sad  and  cruel  workings  of  your  favorite  scheme. — 
Come  and  see  the  negro  as  he  is  now  in  the  hands  of  his  Yankee  liberators.  See  the 
utter  degradation — the  ragged  want — the  squalid  poverty.  These  false,  pretended 
friends  who  have  taken  him  aAvay  from  a  kind  master  and  comfortable  home,  now 
treat  him  with  criminal  neglect,  and  permit  him  to  die  wilhout  pity.  I  give  you 
good  Yank(u^  authority — one  Wil!ia':i  H.  Wilder,  a  convict  in  the  penitentiary  at 
Baton  Rouge,  pardoned  by  the  President  of  the  United  States,  and  made  the  agent 
for  Yankee  plantations.  He  says  the  negroes  on  these  estates  have  died  like  sheep 
with  the  rot.  On  one  in  the  Parish  of  Ibervillo,  out  of  six  hundred  and  ten  shives,  tliree  Iiun- 
drcd  and  ten  h.ive  perished.  Tif^cr  Island,  at  Berwicks  Bay,  i.s  ore  solid  grave  yr.rd.  At  New 
Orleans,  Thibodaux,  Donaldsonvillc,  Plaqueniiiie,  Baton  Ktrnge,  Port  Hud-son,  Alorg-anza,  Vi- 
dalia,  Young's  I'ointaiid  (Goodrich's  Landing,  the  neres  of  the  silent  dead  will  everbr^  the  uionu- 
nients  of  Yankee  cruelty  to  these  unhiipjiy  wretches.  Under  published  orders  from  General 
Banks,  the  greatest  f;irce  was  perpetrated  on  the  negroes.  The  laboring  uicu  on  jilantatioiis  were 
to  be  paid  from  six  to  eight  dollars  per  month,  and  the  women  from  two  to  four  dollars.  In  these 
orders  the  poor  creatures  after  being  promised  this  miserable  pittance,  were  bound  by  every 
catch  and  saving  clause  that  a  New  England  lawyer eould  invent.  For  every  disobedieuee  their 
wages  were  docked.  For  every  short  absence  from  labor  they  were  again  docked.  Jn  the  hands 
of  the  shrewd  grasjiing  Y'ankee  overseer,  the  oppressed  slave,  without  a  fi iend  or  gnaidian,  has 
been  forced  to  toil  free  of  cost  to  his  new  master.  I  saw  a  half-starved  slave  wiiu  had  eseajied 
from  one  of  tlie  Yankee  plantations.  In  liis  own  language  he  said  "that  lie  had  workt'd  hard 
for  the  Yankees  for  six  long  months — tliat  they  had  'dockered'  him  aU  the  time,  and  had  never 
paid  him  one  cent!"  This  is  the  sad  history  of  them  all.  The  negro  has  only  changed  masters, 
and  very  much  for  the  w  orse!  And  now,  without  present  reward  or  hope  for  the  future,  lie  is  dy 
ing  in  misery  and  want.  Look  at  this  picture  ye  negro  worshippers,  and  weep,  if  you  have  tears 
to  slied  over  the  poor  down-trodden  murdered  children  of  Africa. 

UNITED  STA'rE^3  NO  LONGKR  A  HOMK  FOR  THE  OPPRE.SSED. 

There  is  in  the  City  of  Pisa,  Italy,  a  master-piece  of  statuary,  called  the  '■Exiles,"  sculptured 
from  pure  Carrara  marble,  by  one  of  the  best  living  artists.  It  represents  the  exiles  flyiug  from 
the  despotism  of  Italy  to  America.  The  husband  and  wife,  with  a  beautiful  child  iu  her  arms, 
are  represented  in  the  most  graphic  manner.  One  foot  of  each  rests  u[i0n  a  rock  marked  "Ifaiia," 
the  other  foot  is  placed  upon  a  rock  marked  "America."  While  ])ressiiig  the  rock  of  America, 
the  exiles  turn  their  saddened  faces  to  Heaven,  but  wiih  contidencebeamiug  in  their  features,  ex- 
pressive of  hope  and  joy  and  future  happiness.  Oh  !  how  changed  !  America  was  once  indeed 
the  asylum  of  the  oppressed,  the  home  of  all  who  loved  liberty,  and  fled  despotism.  But  now 
she  is  driving  from  her  bosom  all  who  dare  to  use  freedom  of  thought,  of  speech,  or  the  press. — 
Can.ada,  England,  France,  Cuba,  Mexico,  all  are  filled  with  exiles  from  the  United  States — refu- 
gees from  their  homes — from  Yankee  land.  Seward  has  touched  the  wires  and  they  have  had  to 
Uy — without  a  charge  against  them — without  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus — without  any  legal  redress 
whatever,  the}'  have  had  to  hiisten  to  aland  of  strangers  and  beg  for  a  place  to  rest  their  weary 
heads.  The  days  of  Washington  have  sadly  changed,  and  now  instead  of  that  pure  and  good 
man  who  was  the  President  of  a  free  and  happy  people,  a  satyr  sits  upon  the  throne,  drunk  with 
the  blood  of  martyrs.  The  future  sculpl or  will  mould  with  classic  art,  and  fix  in  dull  cold  mar- 
ble, not  the  glory,  but  the  shame  of  Au!(;rica. 

PRISONERS   OF    WAR. 

The  castle  of  Cliillon  still  stands  on  Laiic  Leman's  shore.  The  curious  traveller  is  still  shown 
the  foot  prints  of  Bonnivard.  The  very  chains  which  bound  this  wretched  man  are  still  to  bo 
seen.  All  have  read  his  melancholy  story  in  beautiful  verso  or  elegant  prose.  When  the  true 
history  of  this  war  is  written,  the  sufferings  of  our  poor  prisoners  at  Johnson's  Island,  Camp 
Chase,  Camp  Morton,  Alton,  Cairo,  St.  Louis,  Forts  Delaware,  Warren,  Lafayette,  Pickens,  Jack- 
son and  8hip  Island,  will  shock  the  age  in  which  we  live,  and  make  all  good  men  shudder  at 
"man's  inhumanity  to  man."  The  sufferings  of  the  prisoner  of  Chillon  will  pale  before  the  ter- 
rors of  Yankee  cruelty,  and  the  story  of  Bonnivard  will  almost  be  forgotten.  When  at  last  re- 
leased, see  our  brave  men  returning  home  !  as  they  pass  through  the  Yankee  towns  and  villngcs, 
they  are  pelted  with  stones,  and  subjected  to  the  rude  jeers  of  a  heartle.ss  mob.  Sick,  soro  and 
emaciated,  at  last  they  reach  their  homes,  and  are  often  consigned  to  an  early  grave. 
"Their  hair  is  grey — but  not  with  years, 

Nor  grew  it  whito 

In  a  single  night. 

As  uien's  have  grown  from  sudden  fears," 
— bnt  from  long  conrmrment  within  the  walls  of  a  cold   and  damp  dungeon,  dpbnrrfd    f"ora  the 
fitte  air  of  ITeavcn,  and  term  witcd  by  all  that  a  wicked,  crud  and  vindictive  foe  could  invent.     The 
all  BCCiBg  «ve  of  the   Eternal  Got!   alone  hns  prnt-trated  the  dark  recc.«ses  of  theJa   Yankee  has- 


16 

'6W.  Officers  ara  litAraJly  packed  into  the  narro^T  casemates  of  the  forts,  and  thpre,  upon  short 
allowirnce  of  miserable  food  and  bad  water,  are  suffered  to  die  without  pity.  Out  of  a  number 
of  prisoners  captured  by  tlie  enemy  from  the  ''State  Guard,"  near  Trinity,  only  two  have  return- 
ed. They  report  to  me'that  nearly  all  are  dead.  They  died  as  martyrs  to  our  holy  cause,  and 
victims  of  Yankee  cruelty. 

THE    WOMEN   OF   LOUISIANA. 

Gentlemen,  wlien  our  trials  and  troubles  are  ended, — when  all  our  liattlos  shall 
have  been  "lost  and  won'' — when  the  soldier  shall  lay  down  his  arms,  and  v.itli  his 
wife  and  children  return  to  his  now  desolated  home — when  gentle  peace  shall  come  to 
bless  this  torn,  bleedinp:,  and  distracted  land — the  highest  honors  will  be  due  to 
those  who  have  deserved  the  most.  The  private  soldiers  in  the  ranks  will  be  the 
first  in  the  affections  of  the  country — the  ladies  next.  I  appeal  to  history  to  trll  us 
where  was  there  ever  such  self-sacrificing  patriotism  as  iranifested  by  the  women  of 
Louisiana.  See  the  high-born  and  once  wealthy  lady,  educated  and  refined,  and 
raised  in  the  very  lap  of  luxury,  now  reduced  to  penury,  rather  than  dwell  within 
the  lines  of  the  enemy  !  See  the  aged  mother,  once  the  mistress  of  a  hundred  slaves, 
now  sewing  for  the  support  of  herself  and  children  !  See  the  only  daughter  of  a 
once  Wealthy  planter,  or  princely  merchant,  now  giving  lessons  to  maintain  her  aged 
parents  !  St-e  the  families  of  the  thrifty  merchant,  and  of  the  honest  and  intelligent 
mechanic,  driven  from  their  comfortable  homes  into  (!xilc,  battling  with  poverty  and 
want,  while  their  protectors,  their  husbands  and  sons,  are  in  tlie  army  !  See  all 
these  noble  women  bearing  up  most  cheerfully  under  every  new  misfortune,  praying 
daily  for  our  sacred  cause,  and  urging  their  fathers,  husbands  and  brothers  to  be  tru(? 
to  their  country,  to  fight  on,  fight  ever,  never  to  despair,  never  to  submit  to  northern 
despotism — but,  if  such  be  the  will  of  God,  to  die  like  freemen. 

In  other  lands  there  may  be  w^omen  equal  to  those  of  Louisiana,  but  I  cannot  be- 
lieve it.  Throughout  the  State,  the  ladies  have  not  only  clothed  our  own  troops, 
but  have  given  great  assistance  to  other  Confederate  soldiers.  Sewing  societies, 
concerts,  tableaux  and  banquets  have  all  been  brought  into  requisition  ;  and  many 
<a  brave  soldier  has  reaped  the  fruits  of  these  patriotic  exertions.  One  venerable 
lady,  seventy-seven  years  old,  in  the  parish  of  DeSoto,  has  knit  with  her  own  hands, 
one  hundred  and  twenty  pairs  of  socks  for  Missouri  soldiers.  Good  men  tell  us, 
and  I  believe  it,  that  it  is  highly  pleasing  in  the  sight  of  the  All-wise  and  ever  just 
God,  to  see  lovely  woman  strengthening  the  arms  and  ministering  to  the  wants  of 
brave  men  who  are  engaged  in  such  a  sacred  cause  as  ours. 

MIMSTERS   OF    THE    GOSPEL. 

It  is  a  grateful  duty  to  notice  the  course  pursued  by  the  Ministers  of  Religion  of 
all  denominations  in  the  State  and  Confederacy.  From  the  beginning  of  lh(!  war 
they  have  been,  as  a  profession,  with  few  or  no  exceptions,  steady,  consistent,  calm 
and  resolute  supporters  of  our  cause.  Before  secession,  they  were  unknown  to  polit- 
ical discussions,  for  they  were  singularly  exempt  from  that  baneful  propensity  of 
northern  jn-eachers,  to  intermeddle  with  public  affairs,  out  of  which  grew  that  fanat- 
ical crusade  against  us,  our  institutions  and  our  rights;  but  when  the  blast  of  war 
blew  in  our  ears,  the  chjrgymen  of  our  States  began  to  manifest  and  illustrate  that 
love  of  political  fre(^dom  eminently  characteristic  of  those  whom  "the  truth  makes 
free."  A  goodly  and  sufficient  number  of  them  have  joined  the  army  as  Chaplains, 
and  have  done  most  faithful  service,  teaching  holy  precepts,  doing  most  pious  deeds 
of  charity.  rebuUing  the  heedless,  restraining  the  vicious,  awakening  and  vivifying  in  alia  scusu 
of  moral  obligation— g-iving  comfort  to  tlio  afiaicted,  consolation  to  the  dying,  and  hope  to  all. 
Of  that  piety  which  adorn."?  physicil,  and  heightens  moral  courage,  they  have  been  the  indi;fi].ri- 
ous  teachers.  The  seed  they  liave  sown,  has  produced  a  harvest  of  good  and  wholesome  fruits. 
Many  have  taken  the  field  as  officers,  or  privates  in  tlie  ranks.  They  have  done  their  duty  most 
nobly,  and  in  many  instances  have  sealed  with  their  blood  their  devotion  to  their  country. 
'  At  home,  the  clergy  have  been  equally  distinguished  for  their  labors,  charity  and  beneficent*. 
Majiy  of  the  comforts,  attainable  formerly  by  even  those  of  limifced  incomes,  are  denied  to  thorn, 
for  their  salaries  are  now  paid  in  a  depreciated  currency ;  but  none  are  heard  to  murmur.  Tbcy 
go  from  their  scanty  beards  in  thread-bare  garments  to  their  respective  churches  with  grea^ 
zeal  than  ever.  The  sufferings  incident  to  war  have  opent:d  a  wider  field  of  labor  to  thorn,  am 
they  are  performing  their  duties  with  commcQdable  fortitude.  In  sections  ovorrun  by  ^e  ei^ 
my,  the  courage  and  stfiadfus'tnegR  of  otir  pastors  hAve  been  especially  oonspicaflMS.  Tbou^k 
cojppfilled  to  6«e  theif  chnrchce  polluted  and-  roblJ<Scl  by  a  brutal  and  ribald  fioiaioty',  or  ^ven'<«  ' 


17  " 

flames,  they  have  been  true  to  tlieir  trust,  and  renilored  efficient  help  to  their  flocks.  At  Alex-  1 
andria  the  truly  patriotic  and  heroic  priest  stood  at  tlie  door  of  his  chnrch,  with  sword  in  hand,  i 
ready  to  offer  up  his  life  to  save  the  sacred  edifice.  Tliis  is  an  aet  of  Christian  heroism  unsur-  ' 
passed  in  any  land. 

TIIF.   EMPLOYMENT   OF   NEGROES   FN    THE   ARMY. 

While  looking  for  an  early  close  of  the  war,  it  behooves  us  none  the  less  to  prepare  for  its  du- 
ration for  yeais.  It  is  indeed  wisest  for  us  to  act  as  though  war  were  to  be  the  permanent  con- 
dition of  our  tenure  of  independence.  Preparation  for  the  worst  is  the  best  means  of  warding 
it  off;  for,  if  we  can  convince  our  enemies  of  the  steadiness  of  our  purpose,  and  of  our  resolve 
to  use  all  our  resources,  we  take  from  them  a  moral  element  of  strength — the  hope  of  success — 
thus  hastening  peace.  It  is  therefore  our  duty  to  inquire  diligently  into  all  our  means  of  making 
war,  not  only  for  tlie  campaign  of  this  year,  but  for  a  series  of  years.  Our  antagonists,  with  a 
population  of  twenty  millions,  have  annually  about  one  hundred  thousand  youths  reaching  the 
age  for  military  service,  besides  an  influx  from  Europe,  of  men  capable  of  bearing  arms,  nearly 
equal  in  number.  To  a  government  become  despotic,  with  great  armies  to  execute  its  decrees, 
these  recruits  are  available.  Our  resources  for  replenisiiing  our  armies  are  strictly  limited  to  our 
own  population,  numbering  half  that  of  the  enemy.  Of  fighting  immigrants  we  have  none.  Of 
our  youths,  many  thousands  have  nobly  anticipated  the  conscript  age  by  volunteering.  After 
the  campaign  of  1865,  therefore,  we  have  reason  to  apprehend  that  a  scarcity  of  recruits  will  be- 
come a  serious  embarrassment.  While  this  is  a  powerful  motive  with  our  generals  to  spare  the 
lives  of  our  soldiers  by  shunning  indecisive  battles,  it  is  also  an  incentive  to  earnest  inquiry  on 
our  part,  as  to  any  means  we  have  left  untried  to  add  to  the  virtual  strength  of  our  armies. 

I  have  long  been  convinced  that  we  have  in  our  negro  slaves  the  means  of  increasing  the 
number  of  available  figliting  men.  They  are  already,  by  the  wise  dispensation  which  placed 
them  under  our  tutelage,  disciplined  to  labor.  They  are  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  endurance  of 
our  climate.  Many  of  them  are  skilled  in  the  ruder  portions  of  mechanical  work.  The  m»st  of 
tliem  are  good  drivers  of  teams,  and  all  know  the  use  of  intrenching  implements.  In  active  mil- 
itary operations,  immense  manual  labor  must  be  done;  and  where  white  soldiers  are  scarce,  and 
good  black  laborers  are  plenty,  it  seems  wise  to  employ  the  latter  whenever  practicable.  When- 
ever a  negro  laborer  can  be  substituted  for  a  white  soldier,  a  musket  is  added  to  some  depleted 
regiment.  With  hundreds  of  thousands  of  laborers  thus  available,  it  is  rank  injustice  to  our 
chivalric  defenders  to  exact  from  them  that  labor  which  ought  to  be  donj  by  negroes. 

It  cannot  be  urged  that  our  slaves  are  all  needed  to  raise  food  for  our  people  and  supplies  for 
troops.  Before  the  war,  our  southern  population  was  greater  than  it  is  now,  including  the  army. 
We  then  produced  a  surplus  of  food,  and  three  or  four  millions  of  bales  of  cotton,  together  with 
large  quantities  of  sugar,  rice  and  tobacco.  We  now  need  no  more  food  than  then,  and  raise  no 
cotton,  and  but  little  rice  or  sugar.  All  having  been  mainly  the  product  of  slave  labor,  it  is  evi- 
dent that  there  are  now  more  negro  laborers  than  we  actually  need  for  agricultural  purposes,  and 
that  the  surplus  can  well  be  spared  for  army  use,  after  making  due  allowance  for  those  taken 
away  by  the  enemy. 

In  view,  also,  of  the  possible  calamities  of  a  protracted  war,  it  will  be  wise  to  have  many 
thousands  of  negroes  thus  attached  to  our  armies,  mobilized,  used  to  military  discipline,  habit- 
uated by  army  labor  to  action  in  concert,  and  thus  made  ready  and  ripe  for  that  important  step 
which  the  exhaustion  of  our  armies  may  necessitate— the  arming  of  negroes.  It  is  the  delib- 
erate purpose  of  the  ruling  majority  of  our  enemies  to  prosecute  the  war  on  such  a  scale,  and  so 
long,  as  to  exhaust  our  fighting  men.  In  this  Satanic  game  they  seem  willing  to  play  three  or 
tour  lives  of  their  soldiers  against  every  one  of  our  own,  as  is  shown  by  the  last  campaign  ;  for 
they  know  they  cannot  rule  over  the  living  white  men  and  soldiers  of  our  country.  This  horrid 
pohcy  of  butchery  must  be  met  by  the  employment  of  all  our  resources.  Our  willingness  to 
faght  armed  negroes  against  them,  when  made  necessary  by  their  own  diabolical  and  persistent 
mabgnity,  may  be  taken  by  them  as  the  sign  and  measure  of  our  inextinguishable  hatred,  while 
it  will  prove  conclusively  to  the  nations  of  the  world  that  we  intend  to  maintain  our  independ- 
ence at  any  and  every  possible  cost.  If  a  master  may,  with  the  help  of  his  faithful  slaves,  drive 
thieves  from  his  corn-crib,  incendiaries  from  his  cotton-gin,  and  marauders  from  his  house,  why 
may  not  many  masters,  helped  by  their  many  slaves,  act  in  concert  to  drive  away  armies  of 
thieves,  incendiaries,  and  assassins? 

There  may  now  be  differences  of  opinion  as  to  the  exigency  which  shall  call  for  this  mea3ur«; 
but  if  we  are  driven  to  the  wall,  there  will  be  none.  Each  section  of  the  country  should  be  the 
judge  of  the  necessity.  While  in  this  department  our  army  is  still  comparatively  full,  east  of  the 
Misiissippi  the  want  of  troops  has  turned  the  thoughts  of  very  many  able  statesmen,  soldiers 
and  journalists  to  the  subject  of  putting  negroes  into  the  field.  I  hope  the  public  mind  in  this 
^te  will  be  prepared  for  any  action  of  the  Confederate  States  Congress,  and  that  our  people 
will  be  ready  for  the  emergency  contemplated.  Securing  to  the  army  a  large  number  of  organ- 
i»ed  negro  laborers,  appears  to  be  the  best  possible  preparation  for  this  contingency.  Should 
JOB.  concur  in  this  opinion,  I  leave  it  to  your  wisdom  to  suggest  such  legislation  as  you  may 
deem  appropriate.  j  j 

In  the  multiplicity  of  topics  necessary  to  be  called  to  your  notice,  I  should  have  treated  the 
Mbject  of  employing  negroes  in  the  army  with  more  brevity,  but  for  the  capture  and  pubKca-    / 
ti©n  by  the  enemy  of  a  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  in  the  concluding  paragraph  of  which  I 
exproaaed  the  conviction  that  the  time  had  come  for  putting  negroes  in  the  field.     An  expression 
*f  my  views  on  this  topic  was  naturally  expected;  and  having  no  desire  to  withhold  my  opinion,  .v 


18 

ib  order  to  give  it,  I  was  obliged  to  state  in  part  the  reasons  and  facts  on  wbich  it  was  baset?.  I 
am  indebted  to  the  peripatetic  Yankee  gcucral,  who  never  fought  a  battle,  for  damaging  his  bad 
cause,  by  publishing  my  letter,  and  making  it  the  subject  of  a  special  order.  This  redoubtabU- 
general  seems  to  have  been  much  exercised ;  for  the  letter  of  the  "Rebel  Governor"  has  Imd  tht- 
desired  eifect:  it  has  put  a  stop  to  conscripting  negroes  by  tiie  enemy  in  his  department.  Gen 
Canby  tells  them  if  they  will  run  to  him  fur  protection,  they  shall  not  be  sent  to  the  slaughter- 
pens  and  butchered  any  more!  One  fact  is  certain  and  cannot  be  concealed — the  enemy  feur, 
above  all  things,  the  arming  of  our  negroes. 

In  every  battle  with  the  enemy,  we  have  been  compelled  to  meet  him  two  to  our  one.  We 
have  triumphed  over  him  always,  and  will  c<aitinue  to  do  so,  when  the  numbers  are  anything 
like  equal.  In  one  respect,  however,  he  has  the  advantage.  Ho  can  and  does  out-work  ns. 
His  soldiers  are  generally  laborers  or  mechanics,  of  strong  limb  and  muscle,  accnstomed  from 
infancy  to  hard  work.  Ours  are  different;  they  cannot  perform  the  Herculean  tasks  done  by 
the  enemy.  Place  two  hundred  thousand  able-bodied  negroes  in  the  army,  and  this  difticnlry  i.- 
removed.  They  will  make  the  fortifications  and  garrison  them,  while  our  white  troops  light  ihc 
battles  in  the  field. 

I  speak  by  authority ;  I  speak  the  sentiments  of  the  army,  of  every  officer  and  private,  of 
every  man  and  woman  in  Louisiana,  and  now  sum  up  the  argument  on  this  question  :  If  neces- 
sary, if  the  worst  should  come,  perish  slavery — perish  the  institution  for  ever — hut  give  us  inde- 
pendence; give  us  freedom  now,  henceforth  and  forever,  from  the  accursed  Yankee  nation.  If 
we  are  subjugated,  the  negroes  are  lost  to  their  owners.  If  we  triumph,  wc  can  well  afford  tw 
give  freedom  to  every  slave  who  fights  the  battles  of  his  country. 

This  has  now  become  a  war  of  endurance,  of  heavy  blows,  and  long,  stout  and  determined 
resistance.  Peace  can  never  be  made  with  Abraham  Lincoln  except  l)y  armed  intervention. 
This  blood-hound,  like  the  "dark  Mokanna,"  has  deceived  his  people — will  still  deceive  them 
until  the  terrible  day  of  retribution  comes.  The  time  may  come — i.s  perhaps  fast  approaching — 
when  we  will  have  to  give  up  the  institution  of  domestic  slavery  in  order  to  secure  our  inde])on- 
dence  as  a  nation.  The  civilized  world  is  opposed  to  the  name  of  slavery — it  prefers  bondage 
under  some  other  name.  In  Mexico  they  have  Peons — in  Russia  Serfs — in  England,  Franc«>.  and 
Spain,  Cooleys.  The  position  of  the  slave  in  Louisiana  is  far  sujierior  to  any  of  these ;  ho  is  bet- 
ter clothed,  better  fed,  better  treated  and  cared  for,  and  iu  every  respect  a  much  Iiappier  being. 
Still  we  cannot  convince  the  world  that  they  are  wrong  aTid  that  we  are  right.  The  public  mind 
muflt  be  prepared  for  the  change.  Shall  we  continue  to  fight  on,  iu  a  long  protracted  war  with 
slavery,  or  shall  we  give  it  up  and  have  peace  and  independence  .'  Louisiana  will  rise  en  masst- 
and  say  without  hesitation,  "We  will  abolish  the  institution — we  wili  part  with  slavery  without 
regret — if  necessary  to  gain  our  independence." 

THE  PROSPECT. 

la  my  inaugural  address  I  informed  you  that  I  believed  peace  would  be  declared  at  no  very 
distant  day.  I  am  still  of  that  opinion.  I  believe  the  war  will  not  last  nnuch  longer.  All  rev«»- 
lutions  must  end,  and  become  more  bloody  as  they  approach  their  close.  Peace  will  come  whe» 
we  least  expect  it.  It  will  come  by  intervention,  and  that  at  no  remote  period.  That  we  are 
tired  of  the  war,  none  will  pretend  to  deny.  All  acknowledge  the  fact;  but  we  are  resolved  t« 
light  on — 1»  fight  it  out  until  we  are  recognized  as  a  separate,  free,  and  independent  nation. 

If  there  is  any  man  in  this  State  who  for  one  moment  thinks  of  reconstruction  on  any  terms 
whatever,  let  me  beg  him,  for  God's  salve,  for  liis  country's  sake,  for  hia  own  sake,  to  ask  himsclJ 
these  few  plain  questions :  Can  I  trust  the  yankees,  swayed  as  they  are  by  a  fanatical  mob  .'  Can 
I  trust  men  who  have  committed  every  crime  in  the  decalogue?  Can  I  shake  hands  with  mur- 
derers and  robbers?  Can  I  sit  down  with  thieves,  and  house-burners,  and  assassins,  and  break 
bread  with  those  who  liave  insulted  my  wife,  my  mother,  my  sister?  No,  never!  never !.' 
never ! ! !  ♦ 

If  th^  sainted  spirits  of  those  brave  men,  whose  bodies  have  been  butchered  in  this  unholy 
war,  take  an  interest  in  earthly  affairs,  I  implore  them  to  visit  the  pillows  of  those  misguided 
persons — if  there  be  any — who  iu  this  trying  hour  would  sacrifice  the  independence  of  their 
country,  and  shriek  their  protest  in  their  u^atriotic  ears.  What !  oh  !  what  would  be  gained 
by  reconstruction?  If  the  yankees  violated  the  Constitution  for  a  series  of  years  before  Ibbl, 
will  they  not  do  it  again?  But,  it  is  suggested  we  will  call  for  a  convention  of  the  States,  and 
amk  for  guaranties !  Great  God  !  Imagine  a  convention  of  all  the  States !  They  must  of  course 
be  admitted  as  equals.  Every  northern  State  except  three  has  voted  fur  Lincoln  and  his  policy. 
We  all  know  what  that  policy  is  :  it  is  as  dark  as  Erebus — as  black  as  Hell !  It  is  subjugatiou 
or  death!  We  once  had  a  Constitution.  It  was  thought  by  all  good  men  to  be  a  sutlicieut 
guaranty;  it  has  been  overthrown)  and  now  a  despotism  is  iuauguiated.  What,  then,  would  !>•■ 
gained  by  reconstruction  ?  Nothing  but  political  annihilation — iiuUiing  but  utter  degradatiwn 
and  loss  of  all  your  property.  Once  lay  down  your  arms,  and  then  farewell,  a  long  farewell  \*> 
all  your  liberties.  Your  negroes  will  be  made  your  equals,  your  lamis  will  be  declared  <;outiscat«. 
and  you  will  become  the  slaves  of  those  very  hirelings  who  are  now  waging  war  upon  you*:  Ab- 
olitionism, agrarianism,  and  miscegenation,  with  ail  their  horrid  brood,  wUl  rule  the  "couiitauri 
the  camp." 

Black  men — our  own  slaves,  are  now  in  the  Yankee  army  and  navy  ;  they  willaoon  be  in  their 
cougrees,  in  the  cabinet  in  the  pulpit,  and  on  the  bench.  Are  you  willing  to  live  uudttr  suck  a 
govwmmont  in  any  manner,  in  any  way,  iu  any  position  whatever?  If  1  were  asked,  are  fliierf 
any  tcrnui  ouwhitli  y^u  would  eouseut  to  reconstruction,  and  letiirnto  the  old  Union,  myaHHWur 


?s  emphatically  none !    BetteY  fight  for  four  years  longer— aye,  better  fight  for  forty  years  to] 
come,  than  contemplate  anything  short  of  independence. 

If  there  be  any  who  have  thought  of  a  convention  of  the  States,  to  the  end  that  peace  proposi- 
tions might  be  submitted,  I  would  say,  this  is  not  only  unconstitutional  and  impolitic,  but  utterly 
impossible.  By  the  recent  elections  at  the  north,  the  democratic  peace  party  has  been  crushed. 
Lincoln  &.  Co.  "are  now  in  blood  stept  in  so  far,  that  should  they  wade  no  more,  returning  were 
as  tedious  as  go  o'er."  If  it  were  possible  to  assemble  a  convention  of  delegates  from  all  the 
States,  it  would  be  a  Babel  of  passion  and  confu.sion— of  crimination  and  recrimination.  Peace 
propositions  would  not  for  one  moment  be  entertained  except  ou  the  terms  already  offered,  which 
is  an  insult  to  every  honorable  man.  But  peace  will  coine— it  will  come  by  intervention.  The 
gn-at  powers  of  Europe  are  pledged  to  the  integrity  of  the  Mexican  Empire.  If  the  South 
^'}on\d  be  subjugated,  the  victorious  armies  of  the  North  will  march  over  its  ruins  to  the  conque.'^t 
«f  Mexico.  This  the  yankee  congress  has  declare*— this  the  yankee  press  has  published— this  I 
Mr.  Lincoln'  has  openly  said— this  his  people  applaud— but  tins  the  European  powers  will  not  I 

The  recent  inisfortunes  which  our  arms  have  sustained  in  Georgia  and  Tennessee,  are  eompar-  I 
atively  of  a  trivial  character;  if  Richmond  pven  .should  fall,  our  cause  would  not  by  any  means  ' 
be  desperate.  One  thing  is  certain— we  can  never  be  conquered.  \Ve  may  be  harrasscd  kn-  I 
years  by  wtit,  but  we  will  never  be  Conquered — never!  | 

I  iinist.  Gentlemen,  through  you,  bid  my  countrymen  be  of  good  cheer.     We  all  have  steadily 
opi'd  that  this  war  would  end— that  this  revolution  would  abate— that  the  mountain  ton  raipht 


..ujK-^.  Mini  inis  war  wouiu  ena— mat  tnis  revolution  would  abate— that  the  mountain  top  might 
I.e  viewed,  and  the  dove  of  j)eacc  would  at  last  go  forth  to  return  no  more.  I  am  firmly  con- 
viiiced  that  this  is  near  at  hand.  In  the  meantime,  let  us  do  our  duty  under  all  circumstances. 
I  he  Killer  of  the  Universe,  who  spoke  peace  to  tlie  troubled  "n-aters  of  Galilee,  will  not  forsake 
us,  but,  in  his  own  good  time  will  speak  peace  to  us.  When  Israel  warred  with  Amalek,  Joshu;-. 
•was  sent  out  to  give  battle.  Moses  stood  hard  by  and  held  up  his  hands.  As  loner  as  they  were 
sxp,  Joshua  prevailed  :  but  in  course  of  time  they  became  tired,  and  fell  to  his  .side.  Then  Ama- 
ick  prevailed.  Upon  seeing  this,  Aaron  and  Hur  came  to  the  assistance  of  Moses,  and  stayed 
up  liisHiands  till  the  going  down  of  the  suYi.  Joshua  prevailed  and  Israel  was  free  Let  us  all 
then  rally  around  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  the  Confederacv.  He  is  our  President,  and  this  is  our 
light.  He  is  a  pure  patriot.  Let  us  hold  up  not  only  /«">•  hands,  but  those  of  all  others  in  author- 
ity-     \\  0  will  prevail— we  will  win  the  fight— we  will  be  free  ! 

REC0MMEND.\TIOXS. 

I  respectfully  recommend  that  you  pass  an  act  resuming  the  collection  of  all  State  taxes;  that 
you  continue  your  appropriations  for  the  relief  of  the  families  of  soldiers,  and  the  indigent  of 
tlie  .state;  that  you  enact  a  Inw  authorizing  the  convicts  to  be  sent  to  the  Penitentiary  of  Texas 
t^r  couhnenieut  and  labor— the  Legislature  of  that  State  having  consented  thereto;  that  you  pa«B 
stringent  laws,  pumshing  with  severe  penalties  all  persons  who  may  kidnap,  or  illegally  take 
away  slaves  from  their  owners,  and  all  who  may  aid  or  abet  those  so  offending,  or  who  may  buy 
«r  sell  negroes  knowing  them  to  have  been  unlawfully  taken  from  their  owners,  or  from  the 
agents  or  overseers  of  such  owners,  or  from  their  plantations  during  their  absence.  Many  of 
vur  soldiers,  who  are  now  in  the  field  doing  their  duty  nobly,  as  well  as  many  refugees,  widows 
and  orphans,  have  suftered  heavily  from  these  robberies;  that  the  Governor  be  authorized  to  , 
purchase  one  or  more  sea-going  steamers,  with  which  to  run  the  blockade,  and  that  he  be  I 
empowered  to  buy  and  ship  such  quantities  of  cotton,  or  other  jiroduce,  as  will  suffice  to  supply 
the  people  of  the  State  with  all  such  staple  articles  as  are  now  so  much  needed  ;  that  the  Gov- 
ornor  have  full  j.ower  to  call  out  every  able  bodied  free  male  capable  of  bearing  arms,  not 
cilieady  in  the  C.  S.  service,  at  any  time  he  may  deem  such  c^iU  necessary  for  the  defence  of  the 
"^Uite.  under  such  regulations  a.s  he  may  tliink  proper,  and  that  none  shall  be  exempt  from  such 
«hity  ;  that  the  sum  ot  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  or  so  much  thereof  as  may  be  required  b« 
appropriated  for  the  purchase  or  publicatiou  of  School  Books,  to  be  distributed  amono-st  'the 
several  parishes,  as  in  your  wisdom  you  shall  direct.  I  have  now  a  .series  of  such  school-bookt 
»u  course  of  publication,  but  cannot  supply  the  wants  of  the  public  in  full.  The  vouth  of  thr 
i»tate  must  be  educated.  While  the  war  taxes  our  energies  to  the  utmost,  we  must  not  forget  th»> 
•acred  duty  parents  owe  to  their  children.  Finally,  I  recommend  that  vou  pass  no  private  bilK 
1  ilia  IS  no  time  tor  special  legislation.  Let  all  claimants  be  placed  on  the  same  footing.  Of  ovew 
general  legislation,  we  need  but  littler-let  that  be  short.  The  country  is  at  war— the  whole  ,«tai«-  ' 
2s  an  immense  camp. 

Siucj  my  accession  to  office,  I  have  had  no  recreation.   My  duties  as  Governor  have  been  verr 
arduous.     Many  a  weary  day  and  sleepless  night  have  I  spent  in   the  service  of  the   State.     I 
could  have  done   otherwi.se   and    lived  inactive,  and  at  my  ease;  but  I  chose  a  diflfercnt  oour.«i» 
In  these  troublous  times  I  have  tiikeu  many  respon.sibilities.     I  have  dispensed  to  the  destitK* 
to  the  Widow,  and  to  the  orphan,  to  the  wounded    soldier  and   his  family  large  sums  of  money' 
i  his  money  has  not,  however,  been  wrung  from  the  people  by  taxation,  but  has  bean  put  into  tii«     I 
ireasury  in  due  course  of  honuiable  traffic,  giving  great  benefits  to  all.     The  people  have  paid 
Mo  fctate  taxes.     1  hey  h.avo    been  supplied  with    medicines  and  cotton  cards,  with  clothes  anel 
stationery,  with  provisions  and  farming  utensils,  and  with  .school  books   for  their  childr«u— a!)    | 
Without  one  dollar  from  the  Treasury;  for  the  profits  on  my  iuvestments  for  the  State  hare  i-aij    i 
ftil  outlays  and  expenses.  I 

If  it  is  your  desire  that  I  should  continue  my   administration  as  I  have  be.-ruu   it,  I  wijvJi  Yi.ni    * 
expressed  approbation.     If  you  do  not  approve  It,  I  will  in  future  aULcre  to  the  ^tikl  ktwy  ui  | 


20 

the  law,  and  spare  myself  a  vast  deal  of  toil,  trouble  and  responsibility.  1  Iiavo  no  aml>  tuin 
but  to  serve  the  commonwealth  of  Louisiana.  I  do  assure  you,  from  the  bottom  of  my  hi  rt, 
that  I  shall  be  the  happiest  man  in  this  Republic,  if  during  my  term  I  can  welcome  back  to  ti  ir 
homes  every  son  and  daughter  of  Louisiana.  Then,  but  not  till  then,  will  I  ask  to  be  relievi;u 
from  duty,  in  order  to  repair  my  broken  fortunes;  for,  having  suffered  along  with  many  of  my 
fellow  citizens,  and  lost  all,  I  must  begin  life  anew. 

I  cannot  close  this  message  without  saying  a  word  in  behalf  of  our  fellow-citizens  of  New 
Orleans;  outraged  daily  by  a  brutal  soldiery,  insulted  and  annoyed  by  a  traitor  police,  far  worso 
than  that  of  Austria — robbed  by  oflScers  in  high  station,  and  swindled  by  every  petty  official. 
Under  all  changes — under  every  new  misfortune,  the  people  of  that  unhappy  city  have  exhibited 
the  most  unswerving  patriotism.  To  our  soldiers  and  citizens  who  have  been  confined  in  Yan- 
kee dungeons,  the  ladies  have  been  more  than  kind.  God  bless  these  noble  women!  The  heart 
expands,  and  the  tear  of  gratitude  flows  in  thinking  of  the  ladies  of  New  Orleans.  Be  of  good 
cheer  my  fair  constituents,  I  hear  from  you  often.  Your  ardent  devotion  to  the  cause  of  the 
South,  challenges  the  admiration  even  of  the  enemy.  Go  on  in  your  good  work.  Relieve  the 
aick,  bind  up  the  broken  hearts,  minister  to  thewants  of  those  who  still  laiiguishin  the  "captive's 
lonely  cell."  Visit  the  tombs  of  the  gallant  dead  who  have  died  from  Yankee  cruelty,  and  place 
love's  last  offering  of  fresh  flowers  upon  their  hallowed  graves  ;  and  then  and  there  renew  your 
vows  of  eternal  hostility  against  their  murderers.  For  these  acts  of  patriotism  and  devotion, 
you  will  be  thrice  repaid.  You  ■vWl  receive  the  blessings  of  all  the  good  and  brave  in  every 
laud.  The  ways  of  divine  Providence  are  inscrutable.  None  can  find  them  out.  I  commit  you 
to  His  hands.  He  will  not  forsake  you.  We  are  told  in  the  book  of  Ezra,  that  when  the  chose* 
people  of  God  returned  from  their  captivity,  they  ere<"ted  an  altar,  and  assembling  around  it, 
"wept  with  a  loud  voice,  and  many  shouted  aloud  for  joy  "  You  shall  meet  your  friends  again, 
liiey  shall  assemble  around  your  sacred  altars.  Your  temples  which  have  been  made  the  ''deo 
of  thieves"  shall  be  purified,  and  on  bended  knees  before  the  throne  of  the  Great  Jehovah,  wo 
■will  mingle  together  our  tears  of  gratitude,  and  then  with  heads  erect,  and  in  the  conscious  prid« 
of  freemen,  we  will  shout  for  joy ! 

HBNRY  WATKINS  ALLEN. 


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